What We Can Learn from Charles Ramsey
It was a typical day in East Cleveland Court. The room was full of traffic cases where many, or should I say, most people felt that they were wrongly accused by police officers. The reason I note the feeling of being wrongly accused is because this feeling normally comes with a bad attitude about being in court. When there is a bad attitude about being in court, the Judge has to deal with it.
On this particular day in the crowded courtroom, I noticed an older adult sitting patiently with a smile and pleasant demeanor while listening to every case that was called. It turns out that she was one of our valued seniors in the City of East Cleveland. I noticed her because, as the Judge sitting on the bench, I can pick up on a person’s body language and demeanor while they are in court, waiting for their case to be heard. In fact, your body language and demeanor says a lot about you, even before your name is called. While this lady was listening to the cases, she heard my bailiff tell a young man to sit up in his seat. RULE - Don’t slouch down in your chair in Court. Not only does it show that you have a lack of polish, it is disrespectful to the legal process and the Judge. After being told by my bailiff to sit up, the young man moved a little, but shortly there after he sank back into his chair. When he finally found his resting spot, the older adult woman looked over at the young man and quietly demanded that he sit up in his chair. RULE - If you absolutely have to talk in court, do it quietly and only when the Judge is not talking. As I watched the conversation between the lady and the young man I was impressed and pleased. I was impressed that the lady took the time to “school” the young man on the importance of making a good impression, and I was pleased that the young man did not disrespect the lady. That is being a Cycle Breaker!
Another example of stepping up and being a Cycle Breaker is found in the recent news in Cleveland of Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who were held captive in a neighborhood home for over a decade. They were rescued by the efforts of Charles Ramsey. Mr. Ramsey went against the grain of our current culture. He decided to help someone when there was nothing in it for him. I must admit that I was amazed that he willed the boldness to open the door of another person’s house to ensure that there was no danger ensuing. That was very courageous and extraordinary. It was extraordinary because the ordinary would call for him to ignore the possibility of helping someone in distress under the old adage of, “I’m minding my own business.”
I believe that there are two main reasons that the current culture is not willing to help those in need. First, there is the real potential for harm. Of course there are risks to getting involved in the lives of others. Let’s look at the cost/benefit ratio of speaking up in the face of injustice:
COST/HARM #1 - being called nosey or out of your name.
BENEFIT - making that person aware that bad behavior is not tolerated.
COST/HARM #2 - being physically assaulted.
BENEFIT - you will be the person to call the police and get that violent person off the street. COST/HARM #3 - being called a snitch.
BENEFIT - changing the fabric of our community with a loud signal that crime will not be tolerated.
Second, some people just don’t care to get involved. In fact the current culture is unconcerned with stepping in to help or identify injustices in any form. Think back to the scenario that happened in my court room. If it was “back in the day” the normal activity would be for those around you, especially adults, to put you in “check” if they saw anything out of line. That is no longer the case.
This article is a call to action. We should be more active and vocal when we see injustices. Even before I became a Judge, I spent time talking to young people about avoiding the legal system and identifying mistakes they were making in their lives. Now as Judge, I never let the opportunity pass without talking to a defendant or giving some type of message about the ways to steer their lives toward a positive direction. Be a Cycle Breaker because Cycle Breakers Finish First!
Judge William L. Dawson of the East Cleveland Municipal Court has a mission to use every ounce of his body to help people Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers! He can be contacted by email at judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com">judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com.
