CONVICTED FELON; A BLANKET UMBRELLA
Convicted Felon - Now that has to be one of the most clear-cut yet elusive phrases of all time. If I were to travel around the country and ask people for their first impression regarding the term convicted felon, I would get a multitude of responses ranging from famous serial killers to white collar criminals and most likely, even an item or two that periodically needs scraping from the bottom of your shoe.
Perhaps my own opinion is influenced based on the fact that I myself am a convicted felon, but something about categorizing a Martha Stewart (for example), under the same classification as a Charles Manson, just doesn't seem logical. Of course there are different types of felony convictions and in the legal world they are indeed classified accordingly. But in the real world and to the average lay person (i.e., the majority), there is but one classification; it comes with a harsh stigma and often breeds the notion of inferiority.
The harshness (in many cases), may have been well earned but we live in a society that needs no encouragement when it comes to people being judgmental, which in my view is nothing more than subjective opinion, often mistaken (or at least treated) as factual depiction.
When I was released from prison I remember thinking to myself (in-between the thoughts of how people would view me), what did I learn from this experience? At the time, I really couldn't come up with a good answer. I honestly viewed the incarceration process purely as punishment for breaking the rules and felt that any redeeming qualities that surfaced during that period, were derived strictly from my own self initiative. Rules are indeed necessary to maintain a sense of civility and order, though I certainly don't believe that all rule breakers are (by design), the scum of the earth.
I never viewed myself as an individual lacking in the morality or ethics department and I realize that people often assume that it is the lack of these traits which tend to lead an individual to criminal status. In many cases, I would say that I have to agree. For me however, it was strength that I could not muster; the weakness and fear of a little boy is what turned my life upside down.
I had discovered that my own business was smack in the middle of a fraudulent activity (admittedly initiated by another), and fear of the consequences that I would have encountered in making things right, crippled my principles and so, I did nothing but turn a blind eye. The result of this action was indeed unethical and yes criminal, but the cause was a bit more innocent (or at least less sinister). Unless someone has actually taken the time to sit down and dissect the issue as I've done here, one would most likely not conclude this as a possibility.
The fact that all "convicted felons" are basically lumped into one category by a large portion of society and often looked down upon as well, would indicate a flaw in line with the system, if not the system itself. It attempts to identify black from white in an arena that encompasses many shades of grey. Let's not sell something as forgone conclusion when in fact the degree or circumstances are indeed factors in the grouping. It would also indicate (to me), that hypocrisy and self deception are alive and well in the world today.
Allow me to demonstrate my conviction and make my point by sharing a little story. The format and fixtures are pure fabrication, yet the message and general context are based wholly on truth.
There was a young shoemaker who lived in a small town near the big city. His friends looked up to him and he was considered to be a good man by those that knew him. One morning, not unlike most other mornings, the shoemaker kissed his wife on the cheek after breakfast, said goodbye to his small children and made his way to the little shop in the center of town where he earned a modest living.
That day turned out to be quite busy and several of his favorite customers came in to have their shoes repaired. Some of them paid him for his service in cash and every few cash payments or so, the shoemaker placed directly into his shirt pocket in lieu of the cash register. The young man had absolutely no intention of reporting this income and actually, he liked the thought of owing a little less to the government when spring time rolled around.
That night after dining with his family, the shoemaker settled into his favorite chair in the living room to read the local newspaper. He came across an article about a successful businessman in the big city who had been indicted on tax evasion charges and was being sentenced to prison for three years. What a crook, the shoemaker thought to himself while shaking his head in disgust. He turned the page and moved on to the next article without pausing for even a moment to recognize any correlation or theme between the criminal he had just read about, with his own actions of just that day.
Are people truly deceiving themselves to such an extent that they can't even see when there is so little difference between themselves, and the stranger (or friend) that they are so quick to place judgment on? It happens all the time and it makes me think that perhaps I did learn something from my prison experience after all. At least when I now look at something, I can usually see it.
IS THE SUBJECT OF BUSINESS ETHICS ADEQUATELY COVERED IN THE CLASSROOM?
It's not so terribly difficult for me to understand why ethics in the business and corporate world has become such a hot topic. Corporations are about profit and profit is itself, the "I want" attribute in its very basic form; this refers to gain.
How many times have you heard a mother saying to her child "don't be so greedy, share with the others"? The possibility alone of greed being a natural instinct is more than enough to highlight the importance of ethics and morality as topics for the classroom.
We would like to think that a young adult knows the difference from right and wrong and for the most part, I think the assumption is pretty fair. The predicament however lies in the level (or degree) of matured awareness held by an individual, regarding the certainty of societal consequence associated with moral disregard.
For example, it's a far cry from a high school girl being grounded by her parents for not respecting her curfew to that of a woman being dishonest in her business and sent to prison for 5 years for committing a fraudulent act. They both entail knowing right from wrong and abiding by the rules but the benefit of exposure and experience in the first example, results in a more tangible understanding of the expected consequence and is therefore much easier to conceptualize.
We are all responsible for our own actions however it could only benefit the community and society as a whole by ensuring that the severe consequences faced when failing in our adult responsibilities, are not simply understood in theory by the minds of our youth, but are truly understood and preferably from exposure to teaching not experience.
