Prison

-
We were flipping through the channels as a Dateline that I hadn’t seen was about to start.

Lester Holt (who is a good journalist) was doing a report from an Angola, Louisiana prison cell.

The next hour of television was absolutely horrifying.

Men in prison for decades for crimes committed when they were children.

A 78-year-old man who committed a horrible crime when he was 16.

A field filled with black men picking carrots for 2 cents a day as guards with guns at the ready…

…made me think of slavery.

Men with cancer, their hair falling out, on oxygen, barely able to stand being denied a compassionate release so they can die with a shred of dignity.

There’s zero compassion. No thought as to rehabilitated prisoners.

The 72-year old man, who served 55 years, was denied parole by a board member who said, “I think you need more time with the prison programs.”

How much time does he need?

And I know all the arguments against granting any sort of compassion.

Not minimizing the crimes.

If I were to lose a loved one to a random act of violence…

…but Holt summed it up as he looked in on the man obviously just weeks away from a painful cancer death.

“He’s a human being.”

It was those 4 words that hit my heart.

Yet mass incarceration in this country is big business, and locking up 20% of the world’s prisoners when we are just 5% of the world’s population…

…yeah.

Not working.

A hundred and fifty year sentence on a drug charge?

Six decades in prison for a crime committed by a 16-year old?

Hard to fathom, but compassion is in short supply. I’m willing to wager that if a poll was taken on whether or not MORE people should be put away that’s how America would vote.

It’s too hard to solve the huge problems that produce the criminals.

Lot easier just to dispose of them.

They’re human beings.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Suits

-
Like a lot of other people we got pulled into the series, ‘Suits’ on Netflix. I’ve never had much fun hanging around lawyers who have questioned me as a construction safety officer. I once testified in a case where the opposing lawyer started questioning me by going through my educational background. “So,” he said, racing to a crescendo, “You graduated from college with a degree in Communications-Journalism and suddenly, 30 years later, you’re a ‘safety expert.’” He actually made the quotation marks with his fingers. I just looked at him. “How does that happen?” He bellowed, sure that he was going to discredit me. “Well,” I said. “I knew I was overqualified to become a lawyer.” The courtroom erupted in laughter. Even the judge chuckled. The rest of his questions landed flat. So, I wasn’t all that keen on a show about lawyers, but ‘Suits’ is great. Meghan Markle became a princess because of the show, and she is very good in it (and a beautiful woman). Yet, there is so much more. The wri
Read more

My Buddy, Dave

-
Way back in 1997, I started working with a steel erection company out of Syracuse. I was coming straight from a long stint with a steel erector here in Buffalo so I knew my stuff when it came to steel erection safety rules. On day one, I met with the safety director and he was just getting started as a safety guy, but man, he certainly cared about the guys he worked with. Dave was a good man from the start. He’d say things like: “You’re so full of beans.” Just a down to earth, hardworking guy who became a fast friend. We drove all around New York State setting up jobs. I always let Dave drive so that I could rest. One fine day, way up North of Syracuse, we passed a state trooper.  I glanced at the speedometer. “You’re screwed,” I said, and seconds later, the lights came on. Dave was beside himself.  The cop stopped by the window, grabbed the license and registration and headed back to his vehicle. “Here’s the thing,” I said. “You’re pissed, but you’re such a good guy that I bet you tha
Read more

Mom & Ollie

-
Image
 Ollie Stadium is a mess. The heavy rains rendered the backyard a mud pit and even though we threw in the side yard, the Big O was looking for more, and we were both covered in mud. I had to take some steam out of him somehow so I suggested we go visit Grandma. Ollie hates the car, but he laid quietly as we made the trip. We even brought the football because there is plenty of room to play at Grandma’s. Mom opened the door and started laughing. I thought about the love she had for every single dog we ever had. Oliver was quick to give my Mom a kiss, and then he stood beside her. The love between Mom and Dogs is a mutual bond. Through the years, Mom would make breakfast for the dogs.  Fried eggs, toast, bacon… She would wrap Christmas gifts for them. “To Jeter, Love Santa,” she would write on the cards. They played with the big chicken that made a lot of noise. Mom tossed the football and Ollie brought it back to her. As the visit drew to a close I headed for the door.  “C’mon, Oliver,”
Read more