A THRESHOLD OF RESPECT

2 PARAGRAPHS 4 LIBERTY: 397

The theme of this column is treating all people with a threshold of respect. So I begin by adding one more story about my wonderful and even heroic father, Federal District Judge William P. Gray. (I hope you remember and utilize his comment that “You have every right to disagree, but you have no right to be disagreeable.”) But this new story is as follows: Many years ago my father was asked if he would agree to take a tour of the Federal Correctional Facility at Lompoc, California. Naturally he agreed, and he took my mother with him. While he was there the warden told him that, coincidentally, there would be a talent show later that afternoon presented by some of the inmates, so would they like to attend? Of course they agreed again. Then before the show started the warden sat down in the front row, with my father next to him and my mother next to my father. But then an inmate sat down next to my mother, which made her a bit uncomfortable. And then the inmate introduced himself to my mother by saying: “Mrs. Gray, you surely don’t know this, but your husband sentenced me to be here.” Whereupon my mother moved over a bit closer to my dad. And then he said: “Yes, and after my trial Judge Gray gave me a maximum sentence,” which really made my mother nervous. But then listen to what he said next: “But Judge Gray treated me like a human being throughout the trial and never failed to explain why he was doing what he was doing. So I believe he is the best judge I have ever had – and I have had lots of judges.”

Many years later I attended a conference in New Orleans about the Criminal Justice System (which was sponsored by the Koch Brothers). And one of the memorable points made at that conference was that “Most people cannot be defined by the worst thing they have ever done.” In other words, all people should be treated with respect until they show that it is not warranted by their present actions. Of course there are some people like Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan who should never be released from prison due to the harm that they intentionally caused. But even they should be treated with a threshold of respect, unless their current conduct proves otherwise. So I request that you ponder this issue and, as always, your feedback is appreciated.

Quotation for the week: “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.” Montesquieu

Judge Jim Gray (Ret.) Superior Court of Orange County, California 2012 Libertarian Candidate for Vice President

Please listen to our radio show entitled All Rise! The Libertarian Way with Judge Jim Gray as we discuss timely ssues and show how they will be addressed more beneficially by employing Libertarian values and approaches. The series has concluded, but you can still hear any edition On Demand at https://www.voiceamerica.com/show/3883. And, by the way, these 2 Paragraphs columns are now on my website at www.JudgeJImGray.com, Facebook and LinkedIn at judgejimgray, Twitter at judgejamesgray, and wordpress at judgejimgray.wordpress.com. Please visit these sites for past editions, and do your part to spread the word about the importance of Liberty. In addition, my new book with the same title as my radio show is now available at Amazon.com., as is my wife Grace’s and my new novel centered about School Choice entitled 2030 KIDS: We are the Rising Heroes of the Planet. Please read and discuss them with your friends, and send in a review.