Monday, November 12, 2007

Staying the Course is the Right Option

I have been advised several times that you see what a person is made of when you see their response to adversity.

I have seen many examples of good, strong, healthy reactions to adversity and none stronger than the example of a young man from Georgia, Genarlow Wilson. Genarlow Wilson was freed last month from a 10 year prison sentence for having consensual oral sex with his 15 year old girl friend when he was himself 17.

Genarlow rejected offers of a plea bargain that would have branded him a sex offender for life, instead he chose to stand up for himself because it was the right thing to do. In the end this young man won his freedom after the Georgia Supreme Court ruled his sentence was cruel and unjust after he had served over 2 years behind bars.

On Saturday 10th November 2007, Mr. Wilson received an award from the NAACP chapter in Winston, Georgia, for “Staying the Course Youth Award”. This young man is now focused on returning to complete his education and living his life as a good upstanding citizen.

Let Mr. Wilson’s courage, tenacity and sense of right versus wrong be an inspiration to all of us. When your adversity arrives - ” Stay the Course”.

David Carruthers 12th November 2007.

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