Posted: Wednesday, 25 November 2009 11:34AM
Be Thankful For Justice
Steve Corbett Reporting
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
As we approach tomorrow’s day of bountiful blessing, be thankful that you’re not going to jail.
Even if you are headed to prison like former Wilkes-Barre captain of detectives Billy Maguire give thanks that you will likely one day get out.
And, if you’re already in jail like former Pittston Area School District Superintendant Ross Scarantino, reputed local Mafia don Billy D’Elia or his two-fisted associate Bob Kulick, be thankful that you’ve got three hots and a cot rather than begging for food and sleeping out in the cold.
Thankfully, most of us are not headed to prison.
Most of us will continue to do our best to work hard, follow the rules and hope for the best from elected and appointed government officials who too often violate the public trust. Most of us will continue to root for the feds whose hard work will one day hopefully result in restoring the public trust to Luzerne County ands elsewhere in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
People deserve far better than what they’ve received in hard coal country during generations of public corruption.
And I’m thankful that we’re finally fighting back.
But this battle does not come without fear of retribution or setbacks along the way.
People tell me they fear that the political bosses will find a way to get even. People tell me they worry that friends and family members might suffer if they come forward with information or take a public stand against corruption. People tell me to watch my back.
And I do watch my back.
I’m also watching yours.
I’m thankful that so many of you are also watching mine, willing to stand with me when push comes to shove as it always does.
Standing together is how we’ll defeat corruption. The more people willing to fight back, the less chance the criminal political bosses have as they try to hold on to the overwhelming control they still wield over our lives in this sacred place called the coal region.
I’m thankful that we’ll always be the coal region. I’m proud that my roots run deep in this land. I’m happy to help make it better. But to do that, we must refuse to relive the bad old days when robber baron coal bosses ruled through intimidation and crime and we allowed their crimes to happen.
No longer should any of us stand with heads bowed and eyes lowered while in the presence of the political bosses. No longer should we humble ourselves before the dark altar of crime and corruption.
We must live the legacy of our bravest, most honest ancestors, those who did stand up to the coal barons and political bosses, criminals without conscience who took far more than they ever gave. I’m thankful for that legacy and vow to live it every day in the fight to take back our communities. You, too, should give thanks for the courageous legacy of generations past in this part of the country where common sense, pride and downright decency produced so many good, strong and honest people.
I am particularly thankful for a belief in honesty that gives me daily strength to fight a massive political system run amok. A clean conscience fuels my fight. I’m not going to jail. I’m not under investigation. I’m not worried about covering my tracks. For that, each day I’m thankful that my foes underestimate the power of truth.
Of course I’m cautious. And I’m not naïve enough to think that the enemy won’t move on me and try to neutralize or silence me. That’s already happened. At least one major player in this ongoing public corruption scandal has tried to put me “on a short leash.”
So far he’s failed.
For that I am particularly thankful.
And if I succeed – which means we all succeed – one day we will still all disappear.
What will our legacy be? Will our fight against corruption be enough to improve the lives of future generations? Will we have laid enough solid moral groundwork for their lives to be different from ours?
I’m not as worried about the future as I’m worried about the present. But I’m not worried enough to quit fighting for what clearly will be the turning point in our communities for generations to come.
I’m thankful for the chance to do battle with those who hurt more than they help, those who do more bad than good, corruptors who care only about themselves and those like them.
I’m thankful that more and more people each day are willing to join me in the fight. Good cops, good prosecutors, good public officials and good citizens everywhere are joining together in a fight for right.
For that I give thanks and bow my head on this joyous day of blessing and justice.
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Corbett
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