8 replies to this topic

[longhaul]

I heard this on NPR this morning: http://www.npr.org/t...toryId=95088503 You can listen or read it.
Weekend Edition Sunday, September 28, 2008 · When the scruffy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. I spent at least 20 minutes crouched down by the Dumpster behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around and luxuriated beneath my attention. What he was expressing outwardly I was feeling inwardly.

It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and know that I was enriching the life of another creature with something as simple as my care. I believe that caring for something or someone in need is what makes us human.

Over the next few days, I watched other prisoners responding to the cat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group — not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy it along with the prisoners.

Bowls of milk and water appeared, along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the Dumpster to keep the sea gulls from getting it. The cat was obviously a stray and in pretty bad shape. One prisoner brought out his small, blunt-tipped scissors, and trimmed burrs and matted fur from his coat.

People said, "That cat came to the right place. He's getting treated like a king." This was true. But as I watched, I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us.

There's a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs; we need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some even talk about making prisons more kind, but I think what we really need is a chance to practice kindness ourselves. Not receive it, but give it.

After more than two decades here, I know that kindness is not a value that's encouraged. It's often seen as weakness. Instead the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business and never letting yourself be vulnerable.

For a few days a raggedy cat disrupted this code of prison culture. They've taken him away now, hopefully to a decent home — but it did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. He didn't have a Ph.D., he wasn't a criminologist or a psychologist, but by simply saying, "I need some help here," he did something important for us. He needed us — and we need to be needed. I believe we all do.

Independently produced for Weekend Edition Sunday by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with John Gregory and Viki Merrick.

Edited by longhaul, 29 September 2008 - 03:56 AM.

[E-DOG]

What they neglected to say was that the cat was then sodomised by some of the older cons being passed around like a bag of popcorn.
Later it was found in pieces in some of the chili the guards love so much.
"Man, that was some good f*@kin' cat" one of them was overheard saying.
E

[longhaul]

You better be careful boy they might find that silver spoon you kiped and stick you in there too. I'm not much of a cat person but I've been around a few x cons and they get pretty damn hard so seeing them give a rats ass about anything is amazing, come to think of it America is getting pretty hard too. You be careful now, ya hear?

Edited by longhaul, 29 September 2008 - 05:18 AM.

[E-DOG]

longhaul, on Sep 28 2008, 09:02 PM, said:

You better be careful boy they might find that silver spoon you kiped and stick you in there too. I'm not much of a cat person but I've been around a few x cons and they get pretty damn hard so seeing them give a rats ass about anything is amazing, come to think of it America is getting pretty hard too. You be careful now, ya hear?

Yer right cap'n. Got my mind right, now.
Was jus' a one tme thing an' it'll never happen again!
E

[Unbreakable]

The prison concept around the world is based on the theory that it is a form of punishment to take a man's freedom away from him. American prisons are a joke. The cons have it easier on the inside than they did outside. 3 hot meals, a warm dry bed, weights to lift/exercise equipment, free cable TV, free higher education, free medical care, the list goes on. Max security prisoners typically don't have to share cells, either. All paid for by the taxpayer. If you are going to take someone's freedom from them, then really take it. Don't coddle them. These American prisoners that whine about how BAD they have it. I wonder how well they would do in a Chinese prison or a North Korean prison? Our PRISONERS live better than the FREE citizens of some countries.

[Travelling Blackbird]

There's a few prisons around the world where they have programs using dogs - the prisoners have to train and be responsible for the dogs. They've reported some successes with younger prisoners, who seem to actually learn something from the situation.

[E-DOG]

Unbreakable, on Sep 30 2008, 12:04 PM, said:

The prison concept around the world is based on the theory that it is a form of punishment to take a man's freedom away from him. American prisons are a joke. The cons have it easier on the inside than they did outside. 3 hot meals, a warm dry bed, weights to lift/exercise equipment, free cable TV, free higher education, free medical care, the list goes on. Max security prisoners typically don't have to share cells, either. All paid for by the taxpayer. If you are going to take someone's freedom from them, then really take it. Don't coddle them. These American prisoners that whine about how BAD they have it. I wonder how well they would do in a Chinese prison or a North Korean prison? Our PRISONERS live better than the FREE citizens of some countries.

It costs tax payers around &50,000 a year to be housed, fed, etc. here in the U.S.
The resitivism rate is ludicrous. Any and all violent criminals should be summarily executed. Maximum 2 months for an appeal. Period.
Not as punishment. That would be barbaric. Simply as a pragmatic way of dealing with violence.
The prison system in Mexico is based on rehabilitation. Productive work, hands on training in jobs that are obtainable by ex-cons, fair treatment by the guards, and most importantly, fair treatment by the other prisoners, no matter what color or nationality you are.
E-dog

[edlee]

I guess it's different if you are a citizen of Mexico,,,,,,The three days I spent in a Mexican jail didn't give me the same view as yours..

Money talks,,,,,,,that's what got me out,,,,,,it's also what was neccessary for the other inmates to get the treatment you describe.

Maybe it's different now,,,,,my experience is almost 40 years old.
ed

[E-DOG]

edlee, on Oct 5 2008, 05:36 PM, said:

I guess it's different if you are a citizen of Mexico,,,,,,The three days I spent in a Mexican jail didn't give me the same view as yours..

Money talks,,,,,,,that's what got me out,,,,,,it's also what was neccessary for the other inmates to get the treatment you describe.

Maybe it's different now,,,,,my experience is almost 40 years old.
ed

Mine was about 25 years ago and it was a large, fairly new prison in the Guadalajara area. And no, I'm not a citizen of Mexico.
But speaking from experience, I know that smaller jails in most towns in Mexico can be a tad rougher. Very often no food is provided,
the authorities assuming family is close by and can bring sustanace and bedding etc.

Another case where something good always comes from something bad. I now speak fluent Spanish, and can cook one hell of a mean taco!
E