WiseGal

What are Miranda Rights? “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.” Sound familiar? If you’ve been charged with a crime, it should. These rights are read to you at the time of your arrest. They are read in order to inform you that even when the police question or interrogate you, you do not need to talk to them. No matter what. The Right to Remain Silent   If you are ever arrested, no good can come from speaking to the police. But what should you do? The police tell you that you have the right to remain silent, but then they start asking you questions. You can’t be rude to a cop, right?   Wrong! Your right to remain silent is always in effect. However, there are times when remaining silent can be used against you. Simply stating “I am asserting my right to remain silent,” will eliminate this ...

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.” As with most parents of small children, I have struggled with anxiety. There is always so much to keep track of and so many tasks that need to be addressed. However, I have recently found solace in reflecting on and praying to Mary, Mother of Sorrows.  Our Lady of Sorrows is often depicted with her heart exposed and seven swords piercing through it, representing her seven sorrows. These are: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the three days’ loss of Jesus, the meeting with Jesus carrying His Cross, His Death on Calvary, His being taken down from the Cross, and His burial in the tomb. In the book, Treasury of Novenas , Mary’s sorrow on Calvary is said to be “deeper than any sorrow ever felt on earth, for no mother in all the world had a heart as tender as the Heart of the Mother of God.” The more I reflect on Mary’s sorrow and tenderness, the more I feel at peace in my own life. The ...

If a stranger walked past you in public, do you think you would notice if he crossed your path a second time, but wearing different clothes? Sometimes on TV or in movies a character will try different tactics in order to sneak by security guards. Patients walk out of asylums by changing into clothing brought by a visitor. Criminals gain access to restricted areas by pretending to be someone they’re not. And we often think that could never happen in real life, that people would be paying attention. But the truth is, people don’t pay attention enough to justify questioning someone who looks to be sneaking into a restricted area. There may be some level of suspicion, but unless you’re absolutely certain, it’s not enough to overcome the fear of being wrong and looking foolish as a result. How often do people simply transport a kidnapped child from place to place because no one is willing to inquire into what they’re doing? How often do people look the other way when a hum...