Roy Exum: Don’t Kick A Man’s Neck

  • Saturday, July 30, 2016
  • Roy Exum
Roy Exum
Roy Exum
From the minute my brothers and I each became cognizant, my dad started teaching us the rules of becoming a man. Dad was from deep in Mississippi and he’d been taught a lot of life’s secrets from his father. These lessons have been passed for generations and, the older I have become, I’m convinced a lot of them were borne from The Sermon on the Mount.

Our favorite, back in the day, was learning when to be blind. “If you walk into an out-of-town bar room and you see a man sitting in a dark corner with some curvy Lolita who you are certain isn’t his wife, you make certain you act like you don’t see him. Don’t speak and don’t look his way. Don’t worry, the very second he sees you he won’t speak either – he and Lolita will smartly disappear through a side door.

“But the real rule is this: You never, ever mention it to the man who you saw, even if you know him well, and, also, you don’t ever tell a soul about what you saw. That’s being a man. Don’t worry … trouble will soon catch him but you make (darn) sure that you aren’t party to it coming … because soon he’s going to need a friend.”

Another part of the code is this: “If you whip a man and you’ve knocked him in a ditch, don’t you dare kick him in the neck. Don’t ever hit anybody after the fight for good measure. If anything, you help pick him up, dust him off and promise him if he does anything else foolish you’ll be right back.”

“You need to know a ‘real man’ will never kick a fallen man in the neck with the heel of his boot. It could snap the loser’s spine and could kill him. You’ve dealt the lesson and he’s gotten his due. Let him get back up.”

Well sir, there are dozens of rules boys in the South are expected to know. It takes years to learn them but, once you do, it is amazing how they influence your thoughts and who you are. That’s why I am upset by a story on Chattanoogan.com earlier this week that revealed $45 in additional fees would be tacked on to future cases in Hamilton County Criminal Court. That’s kicking in the neck.

Oh, I agree that we can’t do enough for two of our taxpayer services – The Partnership for Families, Children and Adults – and the Children’s Advocacy Center but, brother, that’s piling-on if I ever saw it. The Partnership and the Advocacy Center should in no way prey on our criminals. First, those agencies are rightfully funded by the taxpayers and other sources. Secondly, those who must pay court costs have no way to defend themselves from this new $45 fee to be levied fairly by our good and decent judges. Fair? Ethically? Really?

Criminal court costs vary, depending on how many charges, and, yes, they are necessary. But let’s weigh this on the scales of justice: Today a typical DUI case, for example, carries a fine of, oh, say $500. But then there is usually another $1,200 in court cost, plus a “litigation tax” of $100. An additional $45 is wrong by any measure.

Go to the Hamilton County Justice Building on any given day and I promise you’ll see at least 90 percent of the defendants who each appear to be living day-to-day. My heart breaks every time I see such misery because most don’t stand a cut dog’s chance. Finally, remember this doesn’t include the expense of “Rule No. 1” – the lawyer’s fees.

My goodness, the guy who very stupidly drank “one too many” is already in the ditch, no question, but for the Partnership and the Advocacy Center to ask for an additional piece of flesh riles my soul; it goes solidly against what I feel is fair. I thought it was improper when the anti-smoking zealots tried to raise taxes on cigarettes not long ago when the smokers had no voice or recourse. It wasn’t fair. Thank goodness we shot that down but this greedy grab stinks worse than wet ashes.

The story claims County Mayor Jim Coppinger, who I think is doing a wonderful job, is adding $45 to some soul’s agony with $21 going to each agency and the county getting $3. I don’t know how this newest species of leeches was chosen to prey on those who break the law but – in strict fairness -- I can give Coppinger and the County Commissioners a list of over 100 good and worthy non-profits by Monday that would love to get part of the courthouse take.

If we gave these 100 good and worthy not-for-profits $21 each every time a judge banged the gavel we could, in fact, ruin a lot of people in a hurry, all in the good name of justice and mercy and every hymn we sing in church.

I thought the Partnership and Advocacy Center held fundraisers, not stick-ups. The Chattanoogan story said the two chosen agencies provide “valuable services to the victims of crimes” – and that’s good – but the way I see it the very criminals we overload with fees on top of punishments will soon become clients too. What a fine merry-go-round this will be.

Coppinger said the State Legislature approved this blood-letting several years ago but only now have the two agencies teamed up to get a cut of mankind’s misfortune. If it’s the “victims of crime” we really want to help, start by remembering every gunshot costs our Erlanger Hospital $30,000 in money we can in no way collect.

Guess who else can’t collect? Check with Criminal Court Clerk Vince Dean – he’s got millions on the books in the names of people who will never be able to pay. Who is going to hire a criminal? The Partnership? The Advocacy Center? To prey on the broken and the meek isn’t a long stretch from being inhumane.

One of society’s biggest puzzles is how to empty our jails, how to enable former crooks to become productive in society, how to get petty offenders jobs. And – whoa! -- someone is patting themselves on the back for levying another $45 in fees that wasn’t there last week. That’s against the rules of being the man you ought to be. That’s kicking in the neck.

The county mayor and the county delegation should be ashamed they did this. It’s against mankind’s code.

* * *

THE BEATITUDES (From the Sermon on the Mount)

(Jesus) said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

“Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

* * *

Yes, back in the day when you were taught ‘The Rules,’ we all memorized the Beatitudes.

royexum@aol.com

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