Money...or Justice?

Money...or Justice

A Guest Commentary by

Germaine Lauderdale

People initiate legal proceedings in court to obtain justice. But what is there to do when none is found?

It is especially risky to speak an ugly truth publicly, but how can change occur without awareness?

For an observer to understand, information is required. One must know the conditions at a particular home, what forced a family to court in the first place, what the judge knew, how the court intervened (or failed to intervene), as well as what resulted.

Getting information to the public is a risk, emotionally, physically, and financially. Public judgment heaped on top of these already heavy burdens helps no one. Is the messenger the appropriate target?

Read the forums. Read the websites. Read the blogs. Examine who endorses whom and for what purpose. Like attracts like. Supporters know the illegal, immoral, and unethical actions, and still, they are using the full might of their reputations, their money, their time, their energy to endorse a very weak man who has shown us, over and over and over again, the stuff of which he is made.

"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them." Maya Angelou's words are applicable.

We have seen his work for six years in our area. This election affects our families and friends; it matters in the most important ways.

Be an informed voter in the upcoming run-off election. The information is there for you because someone took the risks necessary to provide it.

*****

When we received the above guest commentary, it was without title. We have taken the liberty of naming this blog, taking the title from Jimmy Sandlin's political ads. He says there's one million reasons to vote for him--the one million dollars in court and social work funding he states he's responsible for. Money talks, but in this instance we hope every voter in Lauderdale County will also hear the echo of ethics that have been kicked to the curb.

Wednesday's TimesDaily published a photo of Billy Jackson with his wife and four daughters. This picture of a united family was worth more than a thousand words. In fact, it's worth more that Jimmy Sandlin's million reasons.

We proudly endorse Billy Jackson in the July 13th runoff. One million dollars can't come close to buying what this man possesses and what he will bring to the office of Circuit Court Judge.


Shoalanda