I’m all for taking accountability and owning up to mistakes. It’s what keeps order intact and integrity relevant. However, there are times when we find ourselves in situations where we must follow protocol even when there will be repercussions.
I recently discovered that I had a warrant for my arrest in another county. Since I hadn’t left Milwaukee or had any contact with anyone from a neighboring county. I was confused and frustrated. As I tried to figure out what was going on, and I began to address the warrant, I discovered that I only had to follow the rules and respect the law. It was difficult yet simple, About the only thing I could learn about the warrant was that I had attended a court hearing a few months prior to the warrant being issued, on the same matter. I believed that the issue already had been resolved.
As I sat in the Milwaukee County Jail waiting to be transported to Dane County Jail in Madsion, I couldn’t help but feel a range of emotions and thoughts – being treated like a hardened criminal and having my rights and basic human dignity taken while I waited to clear up a misunderstanding. The burning questions of law and order, the unsettling anxiety of possible consequences and the stinging reminder of my circumstances, especially the feeling of being set back while trying to move forward, made the week in the two jails seem like an eternity.
This was not my first time leaving a jail cell. There are two possible outcomes when you are imprisoned: you either need to start thinking about your alibis or you are angry and confused because the charges are false. In other words, sometimes you earned your time in jail. Other times, not so much. This time the outcome was reasonable. The allegations were questionable and I had broken no laws since 2011. I was released from jail after signing an agreement to return to court at a later date. As I waited to be ushered out of the cell, I said to myself the same thing I do whenever I’m being released: “What do I need to do to avoid returning again?” It’s something I say to remind me about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and how the choices I make in pursuing those ideals can affect my freedom.
The details will vary, but there comes a time when we all feel the pressure of our circumstances. It may be fear of a loss of social status, frustration with a job, or even just living in your own skin. Sometimes we all need to “stand up” and be accountable in difficult circumstances. The feeling of “surrendering oneself ” or “turning yourself in” feels like a heavy burden. Taking accountability for actions and choices that you may not have made is never easy. Sometimes life demands that we commit ourselves to an ideal, one where you must simply stand up and take personal responsibility. Because at the end of the day saying something isn’t fair isn’t enough.
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the writer and not of the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper or HT Group, LLC, its staff or management. Israel Webb is a freelance writer for The Milwaukee Times.
