by G. Jack Urso
The recent election reminds me of
the time when I taught in prisons during the O. J. Simpson trial and the jury
announced they had reached a decision. The prison staff rolled a TV into one of
the classrooms and about two dozen inmates crowded in. While waiting for the
verdict to be announced I asked everyone if they thought O. J. Simpson was
guilty.
Every hand went up.
One inmate
summed it up, “We know he's guilty. We just want to see him get off.” Everyone laughed.
Because they
were all guilty of their crimes, there was some kind of vicarious thrill in
seeing someone rich and important mock the system that held them accountable
for their actions.
When the verdict
was announced, they all cheered.
Thirty years later, that’s where we are now.
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Prison Chronicles: Introduction
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