CRIME: The historic study of crime and justice is one of the greatest assets people and communities can have at no cost
Contributed
October 28, 2022
ATLANTA (AGN.News) – When we look at the history of community crimes committed against people, and communities we see a pattern starting to emerge. While there are many patterns, we have selected just one that stand out today… crime and justice.
The historic study of crime and justice is one of the greatest assets people and communities can have at no cost. It may require a little time but the rewards are endless.
History can help us today
One idea has escaped so many people when we look at the history of crimes against people and property everywhere. What is that idea? The idea of a study of crime and justice, whether positive or negative, leading to crime. The study reveals one undeniable fact – you get what you give and/or you reap what you sow!
You reap what you sow!
Looking at crime in the narrow sense of the word or expression is this – you reap what you sow. When you do good, you often get good in return, period! When you do bad, you often get bad in return, period!
For example, take a look at the farming profession. When you farm a crop, you depend on the laws of nature becoming real for you.
The farmer depends on the – reap what you sow – principle when planting a crop. When the farmer plants a crop of corn in his field he’s confident corn will grow and in the end he will harvest corn.
The reality of the idea comes to life when you look at a chef in the kitchen. The chef puts rice in the pot and puts a cover on the pot. What does he expect to cook in the pot? That’s right, rice!
The concept of… reap what you sow… comes to life in nearly all of life’s experiences. Take at look at the maternity ward of any hospital. The mothers who gave birth are confident they gave birth to a baby, girl or boy. This is a reality we have come to accept from the laws of nature.
In all of the history of mankind there has never been a recorded case of a woman giving birth to a rabbit, a horse, a cow, or a deer. Only babies are delivered at birth.
That’s a law of nature upon which every future parent depends. Conception results in only human births.
Historic Lessons we have learned
The history of employment teaches us something about reaping what you sow. When a person goes through the interview process for a job, the interviewer looks at the person’s prior knowledge and/or experience as it relates to the qualifications to do the job.
To qualify for a good job, one has to first meet the qualifications and then go into the interview with the confidence you have a good chance to secure the job. The key here is to ‘sow’ the seeds first to improve the chances of ‘reaping’ or being hired for the job. Here again, you reap what you sow!
Historic Lessons for leaders
Today, nations and governments can learn from history. They reap what they sow as they govern or lead their communities. More often than not these lessons have been ignored in favor of being an exception to the rules.
People who are governed look to leaders to make decisions that will be in their best interest. The larger the country or community the more complicated the decisions. To make decisions that are in the best interest of their communities requires a look back in history.
Leaders often study history as it relates to a specific issue facing the nation. Studying prior history makes the current issue facing them easier to make. Smart leaders will always learn from prior mistakes and successes.
Lessons learned from crime
People around the world are facing an increase or rise in community level crime. Some communities are seeing local crime rates decrease while others see crime on the rise.
We can learn from studying the history of local crime and justice. We have often heard that history repeats itself. That is true of crime also.
A recent study of over 500 local crimes in America revealed a serious pattern started to come to the fore. We call crime the sowing and justice is the reaping.
Study of crime and justice
First, a study of crime revealed – when a specific crime is committed by offenders, the seeds for that particular crime had been put in place prior to the commission of the crime.
Secondly, after the crime is committed (sewing) justice demands an accounting (reaping). If the future offender would study the history of a specific crime (sow) and see what happened to the person who committed the crime (reap) they may decide to take an alternative course.
Thirdly, the study also revealed the need to consider the value of avoiding the situation leading to the crime. There are many examples in history to learn from when the lack of avoiding the conditions have lead to getting caught up in the commission of the crime.
Historic crimes and punishments
The rise in assaults, robbery, road rage, thefts, sex crimes, stalking, and domestic violence in many communities have strained the efforts of law enforcement to solve these crimes. The study of these types of crimes revealed repeat offenders are often involved.
Many of these repeat offenders have been arrested several times before for the same crimes. For example, when a person robs a gas station (sow) they often goes back to the same place or another gas station and commit the same crime over and over until they’re caught and punished (reap).
People who commit road rage crimes (sow) often repeat the crime (sowing) over and over until they face justice (reap).
People who commit assault crimes (sow) often repeat the crime (sowing) over and over until they face justice (reap).
People who commit theft-type crimes (sow) often repeat the crime (sowing) over and over until they face justice (reap).
People who commit sex crimes (sow) often repeat the crime (sowing) over and over until they face justice (reap).
People who commit race-related crimes also called hate crimes (sow) often repeat the crime (sowing) over and over until they face justice (reap).
Crimes (sow) and punishment (reap)
History has paraded before society many offenders who have paid enormous prices for moments of crimes. A case by case study of their crimes (sowing) and punishments (reaping) have revealed they often plead “not guilty”. This puts the burden of proof on law enforcement to prove before a jury the person committed the crime (sow) and therefore deserves the punishment or justice (reaping).
Sometimes the person is found ‘not-guilty’ by the jury. More often than not the person is found guilty (sowing) of the crime and deserves the prescribed punishment (reaping) for the crime.
Historic losses by all offenders
History has taught us a valuable lesson – being a celebrity, musician, politician, millionaire, billionaire, or a local laborer – does not exempt one from the consequences (reaping) related to the commission of crimes (sowing).
When community or national leaders advocate or inspire less than honorable behavior it more often than not encourages their followers to turn those “inspirations” into actions of a criminal nature (sowing) that are committed to impress their leaders.
When these followers are caught up in criminal cases (reaping) they often shift the blame on the “leaders” who inspired them. When this finger pointing occurs, the “leaders” often dismiss the idea of being responsible in any way for their followers’ actions. This is often called, being “thrown under the bus.”
Does ‘reap what you sow’ apply here?
They’re actually somewhat correct, from their point of view, since they were not present when the crime was committed. The point these leaders miss is the fact that they “share responsibility” for the crime. History will judge them based on the reality of their culpability in the crime (sowing). That’s something they can not ever run from (reaping).
When we see people to whom we look to as models of good behavior fall short of our expectations, it has a profound effect on men, women, and children. That effect could be good or bad.
Society expects more from them. As “leaders”, they are expected to rise to societal expectations as advocates of good behavior (sowing). This would make the community a much better and safer place (reaping).
This study of crime and justice involved over 500 criminal cases. Among the many lessons is this one. When it comes to crime, never fight fire with fire.
In other words, never commit a crime to stop a crime nor pay back another for a crime they committed (sow). At this point, both are criminals and crime victims. Both will have to pay (reap) for what they did.
Rise of antisemitism and racism
The rise of antisemitism and racism, whether in words or actions, has consequences. Practicing these kinds of negative social behaviors may not be crimes, but they could lead to crimes.
Recent national reports relating to a prominent celebrity whose antisemitic comments and actions resulted in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars is proof of consequences. Lack of good judgement (sowing) may not be a crime but it could be very costly (reaping).
To be a racist and show it in words and action may not be a punishable crime (sowing) but loss of jobs, loss of status, loss of leadership in the community or worst often results in more loses (reaping) than the racist could ever imagine.
What can help a person avoid the actions or behavior involved in these less than honorable antisemitic and racist events that may lead to criminal charges?
First, remembering crime and justice often affects not only the life and property of crime victims but also the family and friends of the perpetrator of the crimes. Looking out for the best interests of others can really be a deterrent and prevent crime.
Secondly, the answer can be found in the words of many parents as they raised their children towards adulthood. “Think before you act!” These words have never been more real than they are today. Always, think before you act!
Road rage: Think before you act!
We learn a powerful lesson about the crime of road rage from two men who fired guns at each other in a road rage incident in a U.S. city. Anger over the actions of another driver had terrible results.
Speeding down the road, one man fired his gun into the side of the rival vehicle hitting a child in the rear seat in the leg. In retaliation, the other man fired his gun into the back of the other vehicle hitting a child in the back with a bullet which resulted in the girl having collapsed lung. Both children were hospitalized.
They were booked in the county jail and are now facing long prison sentences. Reaping time is in their future… as they spend years away from their wounded children and families.
In the heat of the moment, their ego and pride took over their minds. Three minutes changed their lives forever. They only thought about themselves. The future life and safety of their families never entered their minds.
They were fixated on making the other one pay. Now they have to pay with long prison sentences. Their children are now without their fathers and have to move on without them. That is heartbreaking!
Now both of them are very remorseful for their violent behavior (reaping). Both drivers NOW regret their actions. However remorseful they may be, its time to pay (reaping) for those actions!
Justice, the queen of virtues is coming!
Its too bad they DID NOT connect with those thoughts of regret BEFORE they acted so violently, endangering the lives of their children who they claimed to love. Justice is coming for both of them.
The celebrity movie producer convicted for sex offenses against women or the celebrity award-winning singer and music producer who has been found guilty of victimizing young girls at trial are perfect examples of why everyone should remember to ‘think before you act’… it’s so important!
Hate crimes: Think before you act!
People can ask a question BEFORE they commit hate crimes or vent their antisemitic thoughts or before they vent their racist thoughts. They can ask themselves what happened to others who displayed such conduct or those who committed race-based criminal actions. Take a minute and think!
Maybe a day trip to the local county jail, or a state or federal prison to see all of those prisoners who did not think before they acted, could help prevent hate crimes.
The site of all of those incarcerated women and men might give them pause. They may think BEFORE they act. It may buy them time to think and understand why they should not commit hate crimes against their fellow man, woman or children. Hate crimes does not pay, it cost! Take a minute and think before you act!
Women ask yourself: Is it worth it!
If you’re a woman, take a look in the mirror. What do you see? Maybe its your smooth skin, your well-done makeup, those well-arched eyebrows, or maybe its your beautiful smile so many people admire.
Or could it be the job you love so much or the co-workers you get along with so well. Whatever it is you see and enjoy today… it will all change if you are incarcerated in a cell for years for senseless crimes you could have walked away from.
Think of the 37 year old woman whose anger boiled over after she was asked to leave a viewing party. She walked out the door and returned less than 30 minutes later and knocked on the door. When the door opened she shot one of the guest dead and ran. Her sentence, life in prison without the possibility of parole plus five years. She will die in prison. Was it worth it?
Think about the life you could have had as you watch your very attractive hair start turning grey at the root and gradually grows longer and longer, getting thinner and thinner, greyer and greyer as the years go by as your face begin to wrinkle and the best makeup can’t hide it.
Then there are the little children you left behind who will graduate high school, then college to became adults and have children of their own – and you’re still in the prison cell. Ask yourself was it worth the crime?
Men ask yourself: Is it worth it!
If you’re a man, ask yourself, is it worth it to be in prison? Look at this example… When a man in Georgia ran an ad for helpers to unload a truck, two men responded. Both were hired to help load/unload the moving truck, simple right?
Wrong! Two men were contracted to help. Within minutes both men pulled out guns and demanded all of the man’s valuables including his phone. They fled the scene, loot in hand as they drove the truck away leaving the man on the side of the road.
The crime victim had to walk two miles to get to a phone to call the police. The crime was solved quickly. Both men were sentenced to 20 years as justice came knocking.
One man was given 20 years in prison and the other was given 10 years in prison plus 10 years on other terms including banishment from a four county area where the crimes were committed when released.
Imagine what would have happened IF they had thought about the value of their lives and freedom verses a phone, a few dollars, credit cards and the wireless earbuds they took from the victim.
One was 23 years old and the other 22 years old. What about the effects of these crimes on their parents and children, and maybe friends and other relatives. Were those few items worth it?
One will be in his mid-forties when he’s released, if he’s released. They will have regrets for many years as they sleep on those little beds surrounded by people who want to hurt them.
With some job training, both of them could have started their own moving company. Maybe they could have been trained to be manager trainees with a lucrative future ahead. Instead, they will work hard for many years while earning eighty cents to one dollar a day, up to six dollars a week. This is a real life lesson as to why everyone should think BEFORE you act!
Youth ask yourself: Is it worth it!
Youths of all ages are facing gun violence. Gun-related crimes are on the rise. Some young teenagers have been lead to believe that solving offenses committed against them should be handled with a gun. In fact, some adults befriend young children and offer them money to commit gun-related crimes.
DO NOT proceed down that road. It’s a dead end. It’s a dead end for the crime or the end of life for to person with the gun. Guns are not “cool” they’re deadly. All too often, the wrong person dies.
When you’re young you have a full life in front of you. Life does not end when you’re a teenager. Ahead of you are many skills and talents you will learn along the way that will make you very successful in future life.
Youth is full of promise and learning opportunities. These new opportunities can train you for any of life’s careers. You can make history creating solutions to problems facing the whole world.
Rather than turning to a life of crime, you can turn to a life full of accomplishments in science, math, arts, music, electric cars, space travel, or solutions to improve the environment, just to mention a few.
Any of these careers will make future generations proud of your dedication and commitments to improve your community and the world.
The next time someone offers you a gun to handle a problem or commit a crime, remember there are adults, your parents, teachers, or coaches who can show you a better way of life, a life full of promise.
Everyone: Take a minute and think!
Whether its cyber crime, property crime, gun crimes, sex crimes, or theft crimes, remember it does not pay long-term. Remember, you REAP what you SOW! Want a good life? Do what’s good and enjoy the benefits!
Some crimes may look like they’re good, but it does not pay long-term. There maybe some short term pay. In the long run these iconic words will come true. “You will reap what you sow!”.
Like the farmer, you reap what you sow. So, whatever you do on this earth, no matter what someone does to threaten you, no matter what someone promises you, never turn to criminal behavior. Why?
Because the historic study of crime and justice is one of the greatest assets people and communities can have to help prevent crime. And its at no cost!
Millions of people have missed these lessons of history, turned to crime and became part of what they thought would never happen to them… branded a criminal for life!
Think about the young man who was sentenced to five years in prison. His reply to the judge was, “I can do that standing on my head!”
The judges’ reply, “Try doing twenty years standing on your head. Take him away!” He became a “believer” very quickly in the “you REAP what you SOW!” principle.
Local community support can help
Many communities have begun to address the rising crime rate. They’re taking steps to engage local youth and youth groups in conversations relating to crime and crime prevention.
Many non-profit groups have partnered with business partners to support programs dedicated to address economic and family issues facing youth, both boys and girls. Being pro-active is the key!
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