Properly Subversive/Sherman R. Frederick
It’s been a little over 60 days since the proposed “restorative justice” outcome was announced in the felony vandalism case of five protesters who entered private church property in San Rafael and desecrated the statue of Catholic saint Junipero Serra on Columbus Day 2020.
Several things must happen before the deal is approved. The three big ones are:
- Make amends in a written apology for the court record.
- Participate in a community forum.
- Make full restitution.
The D.A.’s office told me Friday (July 21) that there is no update on the case. These things are, I trust, in the works and I look forward to seeing the apologies.
The dictionary’s primary definition of the noun “apology” is: “A written expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another.”
But there is a secondary definition that reads: “A defense, excuse, or justification in writing for a cause or doctrine.”
I don’t know about anyone else, but if these written apologies don’t come in using the No. 1 definition of “apology,” then it’s going to raise questions about what exactly is “restorative” in the concept of the term “restorative justice.”
I won’t pre-judge, but the whole idea in this case is for the vandals to understand how they wronged the community, not for the community to come around to their way of thinking.
Waiting …
OUR HERO
Sometimes the press releases we get here at Marin Community Newspapers drip of racial angst. Take this one from the Campaign for College Opportunity on California State University’s selection of Dr. Mildred Garcia as the new Chancellor of the CSU system.
She’s the “first Latina to lead the CSU” and as such she “understands the urgent need for CSU to replace policies that do not support the success of Lantinx, Black, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific islander and American Indian and Alaska Native students.”
Exactly what are those racist policies now in place at CSU? Well, the press release never really says.
Look, Dr. Garcia may, indeed, be the best thing since sliced bread for CSU. But when organizations like Campaign for College Opportunity portray her as a race-first savior who will do battle with the evil policies at CSU, it just comes off as unhelpful at best.
Good luck, Dr. Garcia. With friends like the Campaign for College Opportunity, you’re gonna need it.
ETHICS, PLEASE
This ought to worry everyone, left and right.
The latest report on the personal wealth reporting from Justice Sonia Sotomayor shows that in 2008, her investment wealth was $65,000.
She was appointed to the bench in 2009.
In 2021, her wealth soared to $6.4 million.
How’d that happen on a judge’s salary? With book deals and public speaking engagements.
She made at least $3.7 million from Penguin Random House in the initial publishing of her books.
But here’s the big worry: The AP reports that on an ongoing basis the publisher helps “arrange” speaking engagements at public institutions in which Sodomayor’s staff and the publisher – and there’s no other way to say it and still be honest – pressures the institutions to buy her books as part of the deal.
So, who really foots the bill in that kind of shakedown? Taxpayers who fund the public institutions.
If that doesn’t raise enough of a red flag for you (and it should), the AP reports that Sodomayor did not recuse herself from multiple cases involving her business partner, Random House.
That’s unethical in anybody’s book.
JUST NUMBERS
The last day of this year will be Dec. 31, 2023 or 123123.
ONE MORE THING
– It’s so hot my garlic took all its cloves off.
– What do you call a gigantic pile of kittens? A meowntain.
– Where do bad rainbows go? Prism – it’s a light sentence but it gives them time to reflect.
Thanks for putting up with my lame jokes. Until next week, avoid knuckleheads, laugh a little and always question authority.
(“Properly Subversive” is a commentary written by Sherman R. Frederick for Marinscope Community Newspapers, the “mother ship” of the Novato Advance, San Rafael News-Pointer, Mill Valley Herald, Ross Valley Reporter, Twin City Times and the Sausalito Marin Scope. Mr. Frederick is an award-winning journalist and co-founder of Battle Born Media, a news organization dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can reach him by email at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
Leave a Reply