By Darius
In my younger and more vulnerable years, my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone," he told me, "just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
In the United States, there is a well-known internet-famous judge named Frank Caprio. As a judge, he hosted a show called Caught in Providence, which featured real courtroom proceedings he presided over. As the Chief Municipal Judge of Providence, Rhode Island, he gained global recognition for his highly humane, compassionate, and humorous style of adjudication in the courtroom.
Yes, we often say that "the law is cold" because legal standards are strict—like a line that, once crossed, cannot be undone. However, we should also understand that without the crucial element of "humanity," the meaning of judgment would be greatly diminished. The law defines what constitutes a crime, but the specific sentencing must ultimately come from the judge.
In Judge Caprio's courtroom show, the cases handled are often relatively minor offenses. In dealing with municipal cases such as traffic violations and petty crimes, he demonstrated extraordinary patience, empathy, and common-sense judgment, frequently deviating from strict legal statutes to resolve issues in a more humanized manner. When facing young first-time offenders, he tended to prioritize education over punishment, often substituting community service for jail time or fines.
This empathy may stem from his humble origins: born in 1936, Caprio grew up in an Italian immigrant family in Providence. His childhood was marked by poverty, and he even had to deliver newspapers and milk cows to help support his family. After ascending to the position of judge, he often saw defendants who had resorted to illegal activities due to illness or poverty, reminding him of his impoverished past. Just as Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the tree after witnessing the myriad aspects of human existence—birth, aging, sickness, and death—so too has Judge Caprio, having experienced hardship himself, developed a profound empathy for the struggles of the less fortunate.
For a long time, the notion that "poverty stifles ambition" has been deeply ingrained in our minds. In the eyes of many, compared to the wealthy, the poor are often perceived as "worse": some among them might fight fiercely over trivial gains, fail to consider others' feelings, or resort to illegal means to acquire possessions. They generally have lower levels of education, limited perspectives, unrefined speech, and often an unkempt appearance.
But do they choose to be this way?
Society is like a massive pyramid—the top is the smallest, yet the pressure is disproportionately placed on the vast majority at the bottom. If we were to remove the oppression from the upper layers and provide better conditions for the poor, how many of them would still choose to remain mired in the mud?
There are indeed those among the poor who rise to prominence and achieve great success. However, unlike Judge Caprio, who extends his influence to the whole world when empowered, many of these individuals are quick to sever ties with their past selves and their original environments, as if their impoverished origins never belonged to them. As a result, the remaining poor become increasingly impoverished and degenerate. The law was originally meant to guide people toward goodness, but for those who have already fallen, it seems so powerless—thousands of legal statutes pale in comparison to a gentle word of "pardon" that could warm their frozen hearts.
Unfortunately, Judge Caprio has left us on Aug. 20. Still, I sincerely hope that we do not forget the struggles and helplessness of those in need. The law should be shackles that restrain evildoers from wreaking havoc, not a butcher's knife wielded against the vulnerable. Only a person with warmth is truly alive.
I end my article with another quote:
What do you think of farmers? You think they're saints? Hah! They're foxy beasts! They say, "We've got no rice, we've no wheat. We've got nothing!"
But they have! They have everything! Dig under the floors! Or search the barns! You'll find plenty! Beans, salt, rice, sake! Look in the valleys, they've got hidden warehouses! They pose as saints but are full of lies! If they smell a battle, they hunt the defeated! They're nothing but stingy, greedy, blubbering, foxy, and mean! God damn it all!
But then, who made them such beasts? You did! You samurai did it! You burn their villages! Destroy their farms! Steal their food! Force them to labour! Take their women! And kill them if they resist! So what should farmers do?
- Seven Samurai
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