5 ms·

I known it’s not the main point of the story, but the fact that this legislation was intentionally held up by a congressman (a die-hard Ohio State fan) in commi

I known it’s not the main point of the story, but the fact that this legislation was intentionally held up by a congressman (a die-hard Ohio State fan) in committee who relented only after meeting with a famous former Ohio State football player who turned his life around after prison is really interesting given the blowback athletes like Kaepernick have gotten for getting political.

Dangeranger 7y ago
There is a kind of person in this world who is only able to empathize with others after an experience is made personal for them. It is frustrating to witness this, yet I’m happy that the player in question recognized that their personal story could make a difference in this instance.
- justaguyhere 7y ago
  There is a kind of person in this world who is only able to empathize with others after an experience is made personal for them I really wish voters don't elect such people to positions of power
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - dmix 7y ago
    That’s what people always say. Politics never changes. Yet people continually idealize it will be different next time. It’s the nature of the job IMO
  - NotSammyHagar 7y ago
    Yes, so many congresspeople never cared about gay rights till their son came out. Your comment is sad but true.
    - temp-dude-87844 7y ago
      Consider that the political positions they hold may differ from the views they hold in private, both before and after a seeming change of heart. Successful politicians are skilled opportunists. If the politician believes that holding one kind of view plays well with their constituents, they will hold it until the drawbacks begin to outweigh the advantages or the appetite of the electorate shifts. Consider that news of a politician's family member coming out as gay is likely to invite questions about the politician's stance. They now have a choice: embrace the family member and evolve their political views, or reject them and play the hardliner. Fewer of their constituents would be put off by the first course of action than the latter.
Fjolsvith 7y ago
Kaepernick tried to change the system in a manner that lots of people found offensive, rather than by trying to be a good example.
- scarface74 7y ago
  As did every single peaceful civil right leader throughout history. Many of the same people who hold up MLK as the way you “should” protest were calling him a troublemaker riling up the good people that didn’t want any trouble.
  - Fjolsvith 7y ago
    Obama used the Betsy Ross flag at his inauguration.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- athriren 7y ago
  There are many instances in which doing something that many people find offensive and being a good example are the same thing, or at the very least are not opposed to one another. E.g. In the 1960s, the head football coach at a recently integrated high school treats players of all races with dignity and respect; in the present day, two married men raise their child to treat others kindly; etc. It’s particularly difficult to distinguish between inoffensive activity and being a good example when the root cause of at least some offense is due to nothing more than your existence—you can be the best father to a child you can, but that will never make up for the fact that because you are gay some people do not think you should be a father at all. Turning back to the specific content of the article, I am glad that Maurice Claurett was able to use his history and his personal connection to Representative Marisco to enable the betterment of so many people’s lives. A system in which 90% of petitions result in expungement but only 10% of the eligible persons ever know they are able to make a petition is a moral wrong, and its automation (for less than $200,000) seems as if it will result in significant harm reduction for relatively little burden and risk. It also seems like the benefits of such a bill should be apparent with empathy, and that Claurett’s intervention should not have been necessary to change Rep. Marisco’s mind, but so it goes. I think a story like this, where many disparate groups generally opposed to one another worked together to effect positive change, is refreshing especially these days. Criminal justice reform has a lot of low hanging fruit and I hope this sort of progress continues (or kicks off) throughout the country.

Dangeranger 7y ago

There is a kind of person in this world who is only able to empathize with others after an experience is made personal for them. It is frustrating to witness this, yet I’m happy that the player in question recognized that their personal story could make a difference in this instance.

justaguyhere 7y ago
There is a kind of person in this world who is only able to empathize with others after an experience is made personal for them I really wish voters don't elect such people to positions of power
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- dmix 7y ago
  That’s what people always say. Politics never changes. Yet people continually idealize it will be different next time. It’s the nature of the job IMO
- NotSammyHagar 7y ago
  Yes, so many congresspeople never cared about gay rights till their son came out. Your comment is sad but true.
  - temp-dude-87844 7y ago
    Consider that the political positions they hold may differ from the views they hold in private, both before and after a seeming change of heart. Successful politicians are skilled opportunists. If the politician believes that holding one kind of view plays well with their constituents, they will hold it until the drawbacks begin to outweigh the advantages or the appetite of the electorate shifts. Consider that news of a politician's family member coming out as gay is likely to invite questions about the politician's stance. They now have a choice: embrace the family member and evolve their political views, or reject them and play the hardliner. Fewer of their constituents would be put off by the first course of action than the latter.

Fjolsvith 7y ago

Kaepernick tried to change the system in a manner that lots of people found offensive, rather than by trying to be a good example.

scarface74 7y ago
As did every single peaceful civil right leader throughout history. Many of the same people who hold up MLK as the way you “should” protest were calling him a troublemaker riling up the good people that didn’t want any trouble.
- Fjolsvith 7y ago
  Obama used the Betsy Ross flag at his inauguration.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
athriren 7y ago
There are many instances in which doing something that many people find offensive and being a good example are the same thing, or at the very least are not opposed to one another. E.g. In the 1960s, the head football coach at a recently integrated high school treats players of all races with dignity and respect; in the present day, two married men raise their child to treat others kindly; etc. It’s particularly difficult to distinguish between inoffensive activity and being a good example when the root cause of at least some offense is due to nothing more than your existence—you can be the best father to a child you can, but that will never make up for the fact that because you are gay some people do not think you should be a father at all. Turning back to the specific content of the article, I am glad that Maurice Claurett was able to use his history and his personal connection to Representative Marisco to enable the betterment of so many people’s lives. A system in which 90% of petitions result in expungement but only 10% of the eligible persons ever know they are able to make a petition is a moral wrong, and its automation (for less than $200,000) seems as if it will result in significant harm reduction for relatively little burden and risk. It also seems like the benefits of such a bill should be apparent with empathy, and that Claurett’s intervention should not have been necessary to change Rep. Marisco’s mind, but so it goes. I think a story like this, where many disparate groups generally opposed to one another worked together to effect positive change, is refreshing especially these days. Criminal justice reform has a lot of low hanging fruit and I hope this sort of progress continues (or kicks off) throughout the country.