Lack of Communication Breeds Fear and Distrust

While association with only those whom you are compatible with, in and of itself isn't necessarily a negative thing. Unfortunately disassociation, lack of communication between two separates breeds distrust, and distrust breeds fear, dear being an element of hatred. And as evident of that hatred is the history of Arizona's Prison Race Riots and lockdowns thereafter.

No, I am not necessarily advocating that the races "get along" or that they associate with each other, although, I don't realistically see how they can avoid it in this closed society. What I am saying is that they need not, in a blind, futile, mindless act, attempt to destroy each other. Elimination or minimizing race riots are in the best interest of every prison who has a life and business of his own.

I am simply not convinced that this is just the way things are in Arizona or that my Midwestern logic is inappropriate. Prisoners are thinking, feeling human beings, not wild animals. Not mindless brutes like cattle, following the other off the cliff. Likewise, nor should the prison population jeopardize their lives or security insanely engaged in a counterproductive act (race riot) because of the actions of a few. I have no problem with two yahoos, mixing it up (that being a current reality of all mankind), but what I inexorably object to is an entire prison yard of human beings being senselessly dragged off into a riot.

Prison life as we all know is unbearable at best, and it is beyond the imagination for anyone to deliberately make this situation worse. A tranquil, unlocked down prison is in the best interest of the prison community. While an orderly run prison may be a feather in the Warden's cap, of which is a powerful bargaining chip, that can be negotiated into additional privileges and opportunities for those who have found themselves in this most unfortunate predicament.

by La Cin
ACHIM 18:21