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We see a double-standard at work in the American system of justice. He even seemed to back away from his usual shameless playing of the proverbial "race card" by stating, in part, that Paris Hilton would not have received such preferential treatment if she had been a "white, coal miner's daughter." He is absolutely correct. If you don't have clout, you do all of your time.

He also issued the following statement, "Though I have nothing but empathy for Ms. Hilton whom I have met and appeared with on Saturday Night Live the night I hosted in 2003, this early release gives all of the appearances of economic and racial favoritism that is constantly cited by poor people and people of color. There are any number of cases of people who handle being incarcerated badly and even have health conditions that are not released. I have served several sentences for civil rights and civil disobedience actions and I even fasted which caused health concerns to prison authorities who paid for a doctor to come see me daily rather than release me. This act smacks of the double standards that many of us raise."

The reverend is right on target. The 14th Amendment to our Constitution guarantees us all the equal protection of laws in this country. Simply put, this means laws should apply to us equally, with the understanding that we behave accordingly and suffer equally when we misbehave. However, regardless of the color of our skin, the language we speak, the gods we do (or do not) worship, or our place or origin, if we do not speak the "language" of wealth and power, we will be "less equal" when consequences for misdeeds are handed down and undeserving dullards like Paris Hilton get to tilt the scales of justice in their favor with a little help from daddy's bucks. We should all be ashamed that we have let it devolve into this the whole world is watching.

Learn more about this author, Russell Greer.
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