You may be surprised how many people do not share this philosophy, and advocate the more, "let 'em rot" philosophy. It is horrifying. I once (recently) sat through a discussion while on site at a conference that debated the point that child molesters and murderers should, instead of being in prison, taken out to reserves and hunted by hunters. I felt very alone in my horror.
At a time when compassion, in general, seems to be at an all-time low, there doesn't seem to be a lot left over for people in prison.
I'm not too surprised, and shamefully so, I might add. I am not proud of this, but sometimes it is easy, when I hear of individual cases, to think, "Let 'em rot." Or at least, it's easier for me. I know that's a flaw in me. God forgive me, but when John Geoghan got killed in prison, I couldn't work up much concern. The only real concern I worked up, was over the fact that I was not concerned. In other words, intellectually, I know it should not happen. I should not want my criminal justice system, the one I fund, to work so poorly that it cannot do it's job.
It is when I realize why so many common people are in prison, and what things in their lives led them to that point, that I am able to work up my concern, and my humanity.
There still seems to be a common impression that prisoners are "coddled," thanks to politicians who like to exploit the "we need to get tough on crime" issue.
Meanwhile, in the last ten or twenty years it's become much harder for the media to get access to prisons and prisoners, making it almost impossible to call attention to abuse and neglect of prisoners. For example, there is a widespread effort to cover up the extent of prison rape.
True. I've always found it interesting that one of the categories used to separate the sheep from the goats was "you visited me when I was in prison" (paraphrase).
Yep, that's why I am ashamed. I know when John Geoghan was killed (he was one of the more notorious priest-abusers in the Boston area leg of the scandal), that I should have had way more compassion than I did--I knew it even at the moment.
I know the odds are, that either that man was so sick--organically, or so damaged himself (and damage that would have happened when he was a vulnerable child), that he's precisely one of the kind of people I should want to help. And I feel that way, not just because the Bible says, but because I know it is right.
I should not want my criminal justice system, the one I fund, to work so poorly that it cannot do it's job.
I think that it's natural to have anger and even hatred toward individuals for the pain they've caused or the crimes they've committed.
I also think that the justice system should be concerned with justice and not vengeance.
I think that the way we, as individuals, and society, treat those who have wronged "us" reflects more on us than on them.
I think that forgiveness is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and not indicative of weakness.
I don't have any answers, these are just things I think.
In other news, I'm hopefully off to the gym to do some swimming! I am also awaiting word from Tom to see how things went with the INS.
You're absolutely right, Nora. Otherwise, we should do away with it, and have a vengeance-based society.
Otherwise, we should do away with it, and have a vengeance-based society
I sometimes fear we are well on our way.
vw, did you get my email?
Hi! I am back from my holiday travels and back at my desk. I've skipped a lot of messages and hope that everyone is well.
vw, that was a lovely story.
ION, my friend who lives in Jakarta and works for USAID was in a plane on her way to Phuket when the tsunami hit. She is safe, and finally back in Jakarta. From her email:
Most staff were in the same situation that I was in, couldn't get a flight back to Jakarta. So things are a bit disorganized. So many people and organizations just start acting without careful thought about what they are doing. We are trying to prioritize what is needed and how to get the needs met. USAID has people up there trying to rebuild housing, others coordinating accomodations for the dignitaries who want to see the site (Jeb Bush!!?). Granted, the US should have a big presence in helping people, but to use the limited staff we have to make sure that Jeb has a comfy place to sleep...?! But we (USAID) have no health person up there to assess the situation. No one to visit the hospitals and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations such as Care, Save the Children, World Vision) to find out who is doing what, what the priority needs are, if we already have disease outbreaks... The U.N. organizations such as UNICEF and World Health Organization are doing a better job I think at this point in coordination, certainly better than they have done in the past.
