I have literally worked next to a man who was functionally illiterate (his name was the extent of his reading/writing abilities. He also could, somehow, tell you how much money he should gross for the week). However, Philip could tear a diesel engine down with his eyes closed and rebuild it. Usually faster than any other 'literate' mechanic working for my grandfather. He could quote you torques, specs, wiring schematics, etc.
On the other-hand I have also worked next to a man whom everyone liked, trusted. Don had a college degree and a willingness to help anyone on the job; that is, until the FBI and base police (Sandia Air Force Base) surrounded him. Seems someone missed something in his background check. A little matter of bank robbery w/ assault.
My point? Sometimes you can't judge a person by what they look or sound like. Sometimes you can't, or shouldn't, judge a person for what they have done in the distant past. The cliche: "everyone deserves a second chance" was coined by someone a whole lot smarter than we (or at least I). There are certain crimes, I believe, that are habitual; a disease if you will. Rapists, child molesters, all sex offenders. And as one of the other posts stated, "if there is a history there" the possibility of reform are about as great as me hitting the powerball lottery. How does a DUI correlate to molesting a customer? Or an assault correlate to murdering a customer? Or a prior drug user/dealer correlate to casing every house worked in so they can setup a robbery? Do background checks relate the circumstances of a past crime? As yet another of the posts mentioned, "I also know ceo's, vp's, owners who have 'priors'. Or are we following the addage, "the more money you have, the higher the position" the less accountable you are? The more you are allowed to run amok? I mean, hey, if you have 10 million dollars to spend you can get away with murder (O.J and Robert Blake). It is unfortunate that we live in a C.Y.A society. No-one want to be accountable for the actions of themselves or others (if I hire you and one of your employees commits an offense my ass is on the line). It truly is "a dog eat dog" world. It is also a shame that some very good, reliable, hardworking individuals are out of work because of some discrepancy on their part. And it p@#$%es me off that some people feel their own lives/past are so orderly they have time to do my inventory and judge my person. I am not a practicing christian; however, I do believe that God is the only one who truly has the right to judge.
Just my rambling thoughts. Oh, yes. I do have a past. One that, if read on paper, would prevent me from working alot of places. However, through word of mouth and on-the-job observance some of the bigger (mastec, XL Overhead) companies have hired me regardless. Hmmmmmm, can you say double standard?
Re: Cival rights voilations
Member #: 12233
Registered: 1996-2001
Posted:
134
Name:
Randy Harris
Name:
Randy Harris
Company:
out of the business now
Occupation:
was splicer/lineman
Location:
Indiana
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