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Friday, February 1, 2019

way to treat war veterans ~ Judge Frank Caprio shows the way


In Chennai as in many other cities – two things happen at signal –as it is to fall Red, motorists including transport buses would drive mad crossing the signal in a jiffy – and those waiting at the signal would try to outsmart all others the moment,it is to turn green ! ~ jumping signal is an offence – but people practise with gay abandon.  Signals are respected only when there is a Police cop around ! ~ sometimes they would stand a few meters away, allowing people to commit an offence and catch them unaware.. .. … here is an interesting fact report on this elegant Officer !

Globally, at a red light (solid or flashing) or a stop sign, motorists must come to a complete stop prior to the nearest of reaching a marked limit line- and good citizens would do that in a disciplined manner, allowing other road users to drive their way – and allowing everyone to be safe.  In USA and many other European countriesState laws permits the use of automated cameras at intersections to catch red light violators. However, the state imposes certain requirements on jurisdictions that use red light cameras.

This morning an interesting video was received on WA – a US war veteran, disabled and under medication for depression and other ailments, stands before the jury for signal jumping .. .. .. what follows is something which makes you feel so moved – it is the way the Judge treat the Veteran with honour.  It starts with the Judge apologising for making him wait – to the Q – the war veteran who participated in Iraqi answers that he does not remember .. he is shown the video where he drives past the red signal – he responds that perhaps in that area he was going for Veteran administration and in anxiety jumped the signal, for which he apologises. Throughout, the Judge showers respect for all the armed service personnel, talks so caringly to the gentleman, appreciating his distinguished services, again and again addresses him with utmost respect – and in the end says, that though it was an offence, the least, he could do to a person who served for the Nation – is to quash the proceedings.  A high quality exchange – the way the War veteran conducts himself in the proceedings, the way the Judge treats and him and in the end how the Judge apologies, appreciates and strikes-off the note.. .. .. one could witness such things only in movies, if the hero were to play a Judge, one thought !

Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is one of the oldest cities in the United States.It was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, who named  the area in honour of "God's merciful Providence" . The city is situated at the mouth of the Providence River.   It was one of the cities to industrialize and became noted for its textile manufacturing and subsequent machine tool, jewellery, and silverware industries.  Frank Caprio  who is 82 now, is the chief municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island and the former Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors. His judicial work is televised on Caught in Providence.

This perhaps not just  another court show coming to TV even after a slew of them have dive-bombed over the years, but reported to be much different. Judge Frank Caprioseemingly is not the hard-handed judge that others have shown themselves to be over the years, though he is fair and judicious in his dealings with people. He follows the law and yet shows a level of compassion that is not typically found in other court shows.  Caprio is a multi-faceted personality.  He was a Civics teacher,  who has been re-appointed to his position six times now. Earlier he had his own law firm - Caprio&Caprio and  served as the Chairman of Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education.He has a Doctor of Laws from Suffolk University Law School that he was given in 1991 and another degree that he received from Providence University in 2008. He’s been a commencement speaker at the University of Rhode Island as well several times in the past decade.

Over the years with his brilliant judgements laced with compassion, he has endeared himself to people winning   hearts and clicks with a mix of compassion, humour and a rotating cast of poor souls ticketed in the city of Providence.  He became an  unlikely viral video sensation, with footage showing his kindhearted compassion that drew  hundreds of million of views on Facebook alone.

"I think I should take into consideration whether somebody is sick and whether their mother died and whether they have kids who are starving," said Judge Caprio, according to the Associated Press. "I don't wear a badge under my robe. I wear a heart under my robe."The 80-year-old judge invited children to join him on the bench to help pass judgment on their parents and mades high school kids promise to attend college in return for dropping tickets. He works out payment plans for people who are struggling. Occasionally he loses patience, especially when he thinks a person is trying to deceive him with flattery. He even gets laughs when he turns down pleas for a break.
One of the most popular videos features a woman who had racked up tickets and fines of $400. She broke down as she described trying to pick up the pieces after her son was stabbed to death the year before."I'm just really having a tough time, your honor," she said to Caprio through tears, as the judge listened attentively."I don't think anyone in their lifetime would ever want to experience that," he told her, as he dismissed the tickets."It's the worst feeling in the world. I feel so empty and lost," she replied. The case has been viewed nearly 170 million times on Facebook and given subtitles in nine languages.

“The smallest thing can change someone’s life,” Caprio recently told Stars and Stripes in a telephone interview from his home in Rhode Island. “[My father’s] mantra was help people when you can. We were taught in life that it’s not enough to climb the ladder of success.” You have to lead down the ladder “so others can follow in your footsteps.”   Caprio — a first-generation American whose father immigrated from Italy at age 12 ,  is a veteran himself. He joined the Army Reserve in 1954 at the recommendation of his brother, who was also a soldier.  Caprio, who served as a combat engineer, said the lessons he learned in basic training laid the groundwork for the judge he was to become.

Interesting ! ~ and the first thing we need to learn, is the way – we treat those who safeguard us at the borders – the great Indian soldiers – Jai Jawan.. ..

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
8th Nov. 2018.



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