My question is whether doing the "right" thing in prison is really enough to turn their life around. Don't get me wrong, a life sentence for joy riding is ridiculous....but I feel that real rehabilitation should include making amends to ones past...not just building on ones future. It seems much easier to me to move past mistakes and hope to not repeat them than to face up to those mistakes and deal with the aftermath of my decisions. How many children follow in their parents footsteps to that same behavior? Too many. Are you doing the right things when dealing with those you victimized, hurt, or ignored as you do when reaching out to support strangers?
Hey Daniel. I've been missing hearing from you. Just know that as soon as possible I want to get you a letter. I hope all is well with you and that your classes and writings are coming along as you have wanted.So far all of this sounds really good and hope people are responding. Be well and know I sure do miss the conversation. Sorry for the delay. Please forgive me for that, it has not been intentional. D.
I guess what I'm saying is...don't be a dingo. I mean...all joking aside, I understand what you are trying to say...but it's a bad argument. If a person can be a better person simply because they watched cable programming, were more up on current events...then there is a huge sector of the free citizenry that doesn't qualify. It is not considered a necessity...not when there are groceries, rent, utilities, clothing and medical bills to deal with that take priority. A prisoner is given all of those things at no cost. My co-worker puts in an eight hour day, away from her children, her home...and nearly every cent goes for those necessities. Tell me...why you should get what she cannot for free? How are you better? I'll call you equal...but definitely not better.
Now...what I propose is that if an inmate wishes to have these luxuries, then he earn them somehow...real work, real rate of pay...just like in the outside world. This would prepare him for the reality of becoming a free man/woman. I find this to be a fair solution to a "fair punishment."
spryte
(PS - I had to break this into two pages cuz I wrote too much)
I was going to write my own rant...but it can be summarized in two sentences:
Jerry Spring bad. Survivor goooooood.
My opinion on what should be considered "fair punishment" can be summed up in one paragraph...I think.
In this cage, I have a dingo...the dingo ate my baby. Now the damn dingo wants HBO, Cinemax and an XBox. Hmmm...
Okay, I might not be feeling too charitable toward the dingo and I'm thinking endless episodes of "Judge Judy" just might teach it a lesson...but someday that dingo is gonna get out of that cage....
When he does, he'll probably want HBO, Cinemax and an XBox. Not only that but he's going to be pissed that it costs a lot of money and he'll have to work...which will cut into the time he could be watching "Ice Road Truckers."
But that's in the future...for now we have to decide whether or not cable programming or lack thereof has a direct impact on recidivism. Seriously?
It's one thing to jab a stick into the cage and poke that damn baby-eating dingo, it's one thing to starve it or drive it mad with thirst, it's one thing to put it in a cage so small that it's tail hangs out one end making it ripe for tugging and it's ears stick out the roof...that would be cruel and I would probably keep any future babies out of the dingo's reach when he was released.
But if that dingo asked for a joystick and the benefit of something that costs me over two hundred dollars a month to enjoy? Hell no. I'll pay taxes to see that you are fed, sheltered and given whatever things you need to be comfortable...I promise not to poke you with sticks and pull on your tail...I'll treat you with the respect that every human being deserves, but I'm not going to contribute to giving you freely, the luxuries that I pay for with my own sweat and sacrifice.
That would be akin to having you enjoy a filet mignon while the majority of the people in the outside population have to make do with beans and wienies. And trust me...I'm what's considered upper middle class and can afford the luxuries I have...but I'm not so foolish as to believe that everyone is so fortunate. I work with a woman who shops gladly at the local Goodwill store and keeps all three of her children fed and clothed on a single mother's income. She doesn't have cable...but she's not a dingo.
Well...I guess it took more than a paragraph...but you must have hit a nerve. :) My husband teases me that I've grown more conservative with age and I deny it vehemently, secretly believing in global warming and cheering on the "Occupy Everything" protesters...but he's right, damn it! I have. I want to send every illegal immigrant back to where they came from. I didn't like Obama. I still don't.
Ah well...I guess it was bound to happen. At least we haven't started comparing old people physical complaints yet....
Your letters are as amusing as ever. Thanks for bday card and wishes! I'm working like 3 jobs, coaching 3 soccer teams, and playing scoutmaster. Needless to say I'm a bit overwhelmed, so I'm slowing things way down. Just a few more weeks of soccer, then Carter and Tanner are done. Need some mindfulness. It's what gets me through sometimes. I recently shared a large fry with my boss at some great dive burger joint in Provo. I was mindfully eating the fries, savoring each one and picking out the smaller, crispier ones. He said, Are you gonna help me eat these fries or what? Haha. I'm savoring, Mon! You are what you eat.
More to come, dude, but always remember: give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a lifetime!
Ronnie - still following your posts. Please do me a favor and drop all the protests... yes i see your points on all you say... its only causing you more problems. Maybe life is better served for you in focusing on getting off this security stuff and back to visits.. can find someone out here who will visit and love you and care and you can focus on that... you can't beat them their at UCI and the time spent trying is time wasted... your blogs are great and when you Google your name there are alot of articles you have posted. Let UCI go - focus on Scott, the justice system, even reach out to young people who are on the same dead end road you were on... if Ms. Mahoney is even coming by to kindly advise you let it go - means she cares enough about you and has insight to what the stirring up is doing. I too am rebellious - i was in foster care and orpahnages and I know who limited it is and frustrating to be constrained by others. This is your life here n earth.... you cant change where you are NOW.. but you can change how you deal with it. Forget the guards - anyone who steals your cookies and candy is a joke. That was funny by the way. I mean a man does need his Jolly Ranches. :) It's all good. I mean not to say that your efforts to change things are useless - but perhaps focusing on you and finding someone to love an share your life are better spent. Keep on with articles etc. They are good. You have alot to offer a lady who is willing to love an inmate.... and essentially I think from what i read is what you need. Just sayen. Write a book... there is a fella there that has published 2 books about UCI on his own nickel - seek him out and see what you could do that readers would buy. Open your mind to that. And hey... i dont even have the answers for my life... so don't think I am a goddess sending you answers to your life. We are outsiders looking in is all. With love. K
RSS
Now...what I propose is that if an inmate wishes to have these luxuries, then he earn them somehow...real work, real rate of pay...just like in the outside world. This would prepare him for the reality of becoming a free man/woman. I find this to be a fair solution to a "fair punishment."
spryte
(PS - I had to break this into two pages cuz I wrote too much)
You are welcome.
I was going to write my own rant...but it can be summarized in two sentences:
Jerry Spring bad.
Survivor goooooood.
My opinion on what should be considered "fair punishment" can be summed up in one paragraph...I think.
In this cage, I have a dingo...the dingo ate my baby. Now the damn dingo wants HBO, Cinemax and an XBox. Hmmm...
Okay, I might not be feeling too charitable toward the dingo and I'm thinking endless episodes of "Judge Judy" just might teach it a lesson...but someday that dingo is gonna get out of that cage....
When he does, he'll probably want HBO, Cinemax and an XBox. Not only that but he's going to be pissed that it costs a lot of money and he'll have to work...which will cut into the time he could be watching "Ice Road Truckers."
But that's in the future...for now we have to decide whether or not cable programming or lack thereof has a direct impact on recidivism. Seriously?
It's one thing to jab a stick into the cage and poke that damn baby-eating dingo, it's one thing to starve it or drive it mad with thirst, it's one thing to put it in a cage so small that it's tail hangs out one end making it ripe for tugging and it's ears stick out the roof...that would be cruel and I would probably keep any future babies out of the dingo's reach when he was released.
But if that dingo asked for a joystick and the benefit of something that costs me over two hundred dollars a month to enjoy? Hell no. I'll pay taxes to see that you are fed, sheltered and given whatever things you need to be comfortable...I promise not to poke you with sticks and pull on your tail...I'll treat you with the respect that every human being deserves, but I'm not going to contribute to giving you freely, the luxuries that I pay for with my own sweat and sacrifice.
That would be akin to having you enjoy a filet mignon while the majority of the people in the outside population have to make do with beans and wienies. And trust me...I'm what's considered upper middle class and can afford the luxuries I have...but I'm not so foolish as to believe that everyone is so fortunate. I work with a woman who shops gladly at the local Goodwill store and keeps all three of her children fed and clothed on a single mother's income. She doesn't have cable...but she's not a dingo.
Well...I guess it took more than a paragraph...but you must have hit a nerve. :) My husband teases me that I've grown more conservative with age and I deny it vehemently, secretly believing in global warming and cheering on the "Occupy Everything" protesters...but he's right, damn it! I have. I want to send every illegal immigrant back to where they came from. I didn't like Obama. I still don't.
Ah well...I guess it was bound to happen. At least we haven't started comparing old people physical complaints yet....
Your letters are as amusing as ever. Thanks for bday card and wishes! I'm working like 3 jobs, coaching 3 soccer teams, and playing scoutmaster. Needless to say I'm a bit overwhelmed, so I'm slowing things way down. Just a few more weeks of soccer, then Carter and Tanner are done. Need some mindfulness. It's what gets me through sometimes. I recently shared a large fry with my boss at some great dive burger joint in Provo. I was mindfully eating the fries, savoring each one and picking out the smaller, crispier ones. He said, Are you gonna help me eat these fries or what? Haha. I'm savoring, Mon! You are what you eat.
More to come, dude, but always remember: give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man and he'll eat for a lifetime!
Donn Ho