Masks and Cloaks

We’re going to use conceptualization for this blog.  Defining the terms “masks” and “cloaks” will allow for a better understanding of what I am trying to present.  Masks:  People who put on a false image to protect some personal or professional element in their life and completely disregard facts.  Cloaks:  People who wrap themselves up in so much bullshit that they're unable (or refuse) to be penetrated with truth – similar to being brainwashed.   

Many of the people who fall into the category of the “masks” are the professionals who work, or want to work, in the criminal justice industry.  Kissing an agency’s ass is common practice when seeking to be employed, and also posits that the potential employees will agree to or say anything to get that almighty paycheck and pension!  Gotta get the money, yo!  Moreover, the masks people who already have the day-in and day-out occupation obviously cannot be outspoken or conduct themselves in a manner that may give the organization (their employer) a bad reputation; which is kissing ass, being afraid to speak your mind, being subdued, and not making decisions on their own…kind of like being a slave, and most importantly disregarding the truths that come before them. 

Additionally, when this is done many of the masks people are able to be easily coerced into doing whatever a person/agency tells them to do, even if it is against their personal standards and standards that are set forth in society.  For instance, obeying an authority figure at a job even when they’re blatantly wrong; again, gotta get that money, yo!  Since we’re talking about the criminal justice industry and not some silly retail or other part-time job, these ass-kissing attributes can have a massive impact on citizens’ lives and their perceptions about a particular organization; “fuck the police,” or now, in my opinion, the phrase has transformed into “fuck the criminal justice system.”  This is not good, not good at all.  We need public order, people who are decision-makers, and people who are fair and just in their law enforcement practices.  Kissing ass is not a characteristic that police officers, attorneys, administrative workers, or jail and prison practitioners should have; there’s nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe in, and when it comes to lawfulness and unlawfulness I want a person who has these types of jobs to be honest, full of integrity, not afraid to tell someone that they’re wrong, and someone who actually upholds the law, as well as someone who does not lay down (doing whatever some jerk tells them to do).  Once more, this is not a pizza delivery job, criminal justice professionals are given the power to take people’s liberties away if necessary – which is serious stuff!  The masks need to go, and so do the people who expect a mask-like mentality.  Subordination is not always the best approach to take; be a person and use your critical thinking skills, but also don’t be afraid to sit down and listen to someone who has advice or information that is genuine and not only a “my way or the high way” routine.  Don’t be a mask person. 

As aforementioned, masks are also people who disregard facts, and say things like there is no blue-shield culture or good ole’ boys club in the criminal justice system, as well as people who say that the criminal justice system is not arresting, sentencing, or warehousing an enormous amount of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic minorities.  This is ridiculous.  Either these people are playing the masks-game, or are that naïve that presenting facts to them is a lost cause; which brings up my next term; which is "cloaks.”

Simply put, cloaks are assholes, and have no professionalism or assertiveness within them.  These are the people who use disparity as an argument when a person brings up the topic of racist and prejudiced justice.   Basically, these are the people who say that the majority of crime occurs in urban areas, but do not look for criminal activity in any other location – which is biased and prejudiced.  Moreover, cloaks are so wrapped-up in their own world that they will not even entertain facts, and when they’re subjected to facts they cover themselves in their impervious cape (cloak).  These people are out-of-their mind, and need to be attacked by a Superman of Truth.  Please don’t be a cloak. 

By ousting the cloaks and masks people in the criminal justice industry, which is a lot of people, actual justice could be ensued.  I suggest that courses on ethics and facts (statistics) be implemented.  As this is the only way that these types of people can be eliminated from the profession, or turned onto a great thing called reason.  Finally, any person who works within the profession and says that this is a terrible idea is most likely a mask or a cloak—you’ve been exposed, it’s time for you to go and get your pizza delivery job because you have no clue what you’re doing or talking about.  Not paying attention to your profession or surroundings is a terrible characteristic to have while working in the criminal justice system.  It’s time to grow up and realize that some of the actions in the system are not being done as they are suggested; masks and cloaks, what the hell?   Happy belated Halloween.