Personal Success In America

In America as elsewhere we like to think people who break the law and go to jail are not like us. We like to think we are different, we are better citizens, not prone to bad or illegal behavior. The judges whom we respect without question look kindly upon us. We write about those who have failed, who have gotten caught, have caused harm and think -- they are bad and I am good we silently say to ourselves. We say, "they are subject to reproach, but not me."