Today 'twas the 95th anniversary of the Greenwood riot. Oh, such a terrible event. Perhaps as many as 300 massacred, and maybe 8,000 left homeless after rioters burned down the Greenwood community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
What a community it had been. One of the most successful and wealthiest African-American enclaves in the U.S., it was often called "America's Black Wall Street."
As I Facebooked tonight, one friend wrote of how black people were driven out at gun point. Little wonder there is still racial tension there, he said. But, he added. "It is time to stop blaming whites for all the problems. It's a complex issue, and everyone needs to take their part in solving the problem."
"It is complex, bringing peace. Wish we knew what to do," I wrote back. I then went to bed, only to pop right back up and post: "Actually, I do know what 'we' can do. But, it sounds trite and simplistic. Love. Love is all we need. Wish there had been a large demonstration in that greater community today on the 95th anniversary, people pouring into town with signs saying they love the black people, and they regret the riot 95 years ago."
A complex issue, and love a simplistic answer? As I wrote those words, I thought of a quote from LDS apostle L.Tom Perry, who passed away yesterday. "Today's complexities demand greater simplicity."
Sunday, May 31, 2015
If Our Prisons aren't Working, It's Insanity not to Change Them
Comes a news story about a man who tries to hijack a car, but the 69-year-old woman victim will have none of it, and beats the man with her fists. He flees to her home, sets it on fire, and about dies in the fire.
As I read the Deseret News article, I learn the alleged criminal, Christoper Bigler, had "an extensive criminal history." Then, I read the comments at the bottom of the online article. The solution some of the writers suggest is locking him up for good.
I wonder at that. To begin with, we can't lock him up "for good." His wasn't a life offense. At some point, he will have to be set free.
Still, that jail hasn't reformed Bigler is worthy of note. Will sending him back for a more-extended stay make a difference? It hasn't done the trick, so far. What is the old adage? "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Whether Albert Einstein or Benjamin Franklin said that, or neither one of them, there is still truth in it.
As I read the Deseret News article, I learn the alleged criminal, Christoper Bigler, had "an extensive criminal history." Then, I read the comments at the bottom of the online article. The solution some of the writers suggest is locking him up for good.
I wonder at that. To begin with, we can't lock him up "for good." His wasn't a life offense. At some point, he will have to be set free.
Still, that jail hasn't reformed Bigler is worthy of note. Will sending him back for a more-extended stay make a difference? It hasn't done the trick, so far. What is the old adage? "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Whether Albert Einstein or Benjamin Franklin said that, or neither one of them, there is still truth in it.
Would that when we saw a news article such as this, we took it as a wake-up call that we do need to change things up. What we are doing isn't working. If doing the same thing over and over even though we aren't getting results is insanity, then this is insanity.
So, it behooves us to think, to reflect on what we aren't doing, to search and scramble and reflect, to brainstorm. It behooves us to build a better prison. Not one that locks the prisoner up tighter, but one that makes him more suited for being free when it is time to free him.
So, it behooves us to think, to reflect on what we aren't doing, to search and scramble and reflect, to brainstorm. It behooves us to build a better prison. Not one that locks the prisoner up tighter, but one that makes him more suited for being free when it is time to free him.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Our 'Children' in Prison Need Constant Correction
If a child misbehaves, we correct him. We send him to time-out, or spank him, or make him do the dishes. Whatever form of correction we employ, we do not let him continue his bad conduct.
Perhaps we should consider if our efforts do any good, because if correction is good for the child, it is also good for the adult. Thing is, though, we can no longer correct the adult. He no longer has to listen to us.
. . . Until he goes to jail.
For that brief time he is in prison, he once again is subject to going to time out, or to doing the dishes. It is strange, then -- or should be -- that we hear so little of prisoners being corrected for misbehaving. Oh, I am not talking of the bigger things, such as physically fighting, for I imagine they are punished if they fistfight and such.
No, I mean little things like yelling at other prisoners, calling them names, and belittling them. When we catch prisoners mocking each other, and treating each other bad, do we correct them? Do we even so much as say, "David, you should not be making fun of Kevin that way"?
No. They are in prison for however long, and punishing them for the crime they committed is all we concern ourselves with. There is not correction for cussing, or mocking, or cheating while playing cards. It is as if we think those things are none of our business -- and that is, indeed, probably exactly what we think. We think it is none of our business to correct the prisoner for swearing or making fun of others or cheating while playing cards.
We squander the chance of retraining the child, the child who has now become an adult. We have him back in our charge for this brief span of time, and we waste this narrow opening and do not even try to re bring up the child who has become an adult.
We waste it away.
Is there no wonder that we have high recidivism? If we aren't even trying to reform the prisoner's character, how do we suppose to succeed at turning him into a better individual?
I will say, I don't know if making the prisoner drop and do 20 push-ups every time he picks on a fellow prisoner is the answer. But, I know he should be corrected, if in none other way than being told what he did was wrong. If simply being told not to do something does not work, then escalate to forms of punishment such as no TV for a week, or whatever.
Those who have the best parenting skills would do us well to be working in the prisons, whether they be there as paid employees or as volunteers. We need workers in the prison who oversee everything the prisoner does, and who provide correction each time they catch a misbehavior. If ever there were children needing constant supervision, it would be our "children" in prison.
Perhaps we should consider if our efforts do any good, because if correction is good for the child, it is also good for the adult. Thing is, though, we can no longer correct the adult. He no longer has to listen to us.
. . . Until he goes to jail.
For that brief time he is in prison, he once again is subject to going to time out, or to doing the dishes. It is strange, then -- or should be -- that we hear so little of prisoners being corrected for misbehaving. Oh, I am not talking of the bigger things, such as physically fighting, for I imagine they are punished if they fistfight and such.
No, I mean little things like yelling at other prisoners, calling them names, and belittling them. When we catch prisoners mocking each other, and treating each other bad, do we correct them? Do we even so much as say, "David, you should not be making fun of Kevin that way"?
No. They are in prison for however long, and punishing them for the crime they committed is all we concern ourselves with. There is not correction for cussing, or mocking, or cheating while playing cards. It is as if we think those things are none of our business -- and that is, indeed, probably exactly what we think. We think it is none of our business to correct the prisoner for swearing or making fun of others or cheating while playing cards.
We squander the chance of retraining the child, the child who has now become an adult. We have him back in our charge for this brief span of time, and we waste this narrow opening and do not even try to re bring up the child who has become an adult.
We waste it away.
Is there no wonder that we have high recidivism? If we aren't even trying to reform the prisoner's character, how do we suppose to succeed at turning him into a better individual?
I will say, I don't know if making the prisoner drop and do 20 push-ups every time he picks on a fellow prisoner is the answer. But, I know he should be corrected, if in none other way than being told what he did was wrong. If simply being told not to do something does not work, then escalate to forms of punishment such as no TV for a week, or whatever.
Those who have the best parenting skills would do us well to be working in the prisons, whether they be there as paid employees or as volunteers. We need workers in the prison who oversee everything the prisoner does, and who provide correction each time they catch a misbehavior. If ever there were children needing constant supervision, it would be our "children" in prison.
Friday, May 29, 2015
It is Not the Gun in the Hand that Counts, but the Gun in the Heart.
Guns in the right hands, are good. Guns in the wrong hands, are not. Now, there is an asterisk next to the first statement, for guns can go afoul even when a good person bears them.
Still, if the bearer of the gun has the right frame of mind, the chances of the weapon being misused are not likely. You tell me then, can we put a gun in a person's hand, and not have it lure him to its dark side? Can he remain pure from the lust of wanting to use it? Can he utter what I shall call the Good Gunman's Creed?
I wear not this gun because I want to use it, but in fear that I might have to. When the time comes to pull the trigger, I will not relish and enjoy the act, for the love of blood is not in my nature. Rather, I will lament, mourn and regret that I must use it. I will tear at any injury I must bring, to anyone, regardless whether they be villain and criminal. I value the life of all humankind, and seek not to harm any.
I wear this gun not to intimidate, not to frighten the innocent, not to display or have power over anyone, and not to gain stature or respect. I wear it as a duty. If I pull the trigger, it will be of necessity, not with joy.
Such could be the Good Gunman's Creed. When it comes to guns and whether they are good, it is not the gun in the hand that counts, but the gun that lies in the heart.
I wear not this gun because I want to use it, but in fear that I might have to. When the time comes to pull the trigger, I will not relish and enjoy the act, for the love of blood is not in my nature. Rather, I will lament, mourn and regret that I must use it. I will tear at any injury I must bring, to anyone, regardless whether they be villain and criminal. I value the life of all humankind, and seek not to harm any.
I wear this gun not to intimidate, not to frighten the innocent, not to display or have power over anyone, and not to gain stature or respect. I wear it as a duty. If I pull the trigger, it will be of necessity, not with joy.
Such could be the Good Gunman's Creed. When it comes to guns and whether they are good, it is not the gun in the hand that counts, but the gun that lies in the heart.
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Prison Time Should be Family Time
If you want to foster the things you want a prisoner to be involved with, you don't rip them away from him. If you want him to be a good family man, being a good family man should be part of his prison experience. It is one of the key values you want him to have, so you should teach it to him.
Rather than taking the family out of the prisoner's life, you seek to put it in.
Rather than limiting him to once-a-week visits, let him visit his family daily, if they will visit that often. But . . . these should not be unsupervised visits. A counselor or teacher should be on hand at each visit, offering correction and discipline when the prisoner or family mistreat each other. The two parties should be held to a high standard, the prisoner treating the family well, and the family treating the prisoner well. The prisoner should even be coached before many of the visits, the counselor saying, I want you to do it this way. And, the counselor should often review the visits with the prisoner just after the family leaves, making suggestions on what could have been done better and praising him for the things he did correctly.
The counselor should know the family well, calling the family and interviewing them to know what the needs and accomplishments are. And, if those things are not coming through in the family visits, the counselor should pass them along to the prisoner and encourage him to take an interest in what each member of his family is accomplishing and needing.
Prison reform should be about making a better person. It should be about instilling values. Having family values can help make the prisoner a better citizen, So, rather than ripping the prisoner from his family when we send him to prison, we should let him continue to see his family, and we should use those visits as opportunities to teach him how to treat his family.
Rather than taking the family out of the prisoner's life, you seek to put it in.
Rather than limiting him to once-a-week visits, let him visit his family daily, if they will visit that often. But . . . these should not be unsupervised visits. A counselor or teacher should be on hand at each visit, offering correction and discipline when the prisoner or family mistreat each other. The two parties should be held to a high standard, the prisoner treating the family well, and the family treating the prisoner well. The prisoner should even be coached before many of the visits, the counselor saying, I want you to do it this way. And, the counselor should often review the visits with the prisoner just after the family leaves, making suggestions on what could have been done better and praising him for the things he did correctly.
The counselor should know the family well, calling the family and interviewing them to know what the needs and accomplishments are. And, if those things are not coming through in the family visits, the counselor should pass them along to the prisoner and encourage him to take an interest in what each member of his family is accomplishing and needing.
Prison reform should be about making a better person. It should be about instilling values. Having family values can help make the prisoner a better citizen, So, rather than ripping the prisoner from his family when we send him to prison, we should let him continue to see his family, and we should use those visits as opportunities to teach him how to treat his family.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
It Takes a Village to Correct a Criminal
If we truly believe love makes a difference in people's lives, and if we realize the effort to turn a criminal's life cannot end just because he leaves prison, we would work on making communities more accepting of the ex-convict.
Prison reform must be extended to the communities. Everything done in prison will be wasted if the reformation does not continue when the prisoner gets out.
The desire to be reformed is going to end if the prisoner returns to a cold and unforgiving community. Usually, anyway. It would be good if communities showered their ex-convicts with not only love, but encouragement to stay away from criminal ways. I think of the story in the New Testament of the prodigal son. I think of that father who tossed his son a party.
I wonder how many times a community has tossed a party for a returning prisoner. Of course, I don't mean a party with drugs and loose women. I mean a party where they do the welcoming in a wholesome manner.
It takes a village to raise a child, they say, and that is only made more true when the person is wayward. It takes a village to correct a criminal, to guide him away from a life of crime.
Prison reform must be extended to the communities. Everything done in prison will be wasted if the reformation does not continue when the prisoner gets out.
The desire to be reformed is going to end if the prisoner returns to a cold and unforgiving community. Usually, anyway. It would be good if communities showered their ex-convicts with not only love, but encouragement to stay away from criminal ways. I think of the story in the New Testament of the prodigal son. I think of that father who tossed his son a party.
I wonder how many times a community has tossed a party for a returning prisoner. Of course, I don't mean a party with drugs and loose women. I mean a party where they do the welcoming in a wholesome manner.
It takes a village to raise a child, they say, and that is only made more true when the person is wayward. It takes a village to correct a criminal, to guide him away from a life of crime.
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Give Every Prisoner a Volunteer Mentor
How about every prisoner having a mentor, a member of the community to befriend them, a role model to come in and counsel them?
There are great benefits to such a suggestion. One, the prisoner can use the example, the friendship and the direction. Two, such a program invests the community in the process of rehabilitating the prisoner. When the prisoner exits his cell, he will benefit by having an example and friend on the outside, to help keep him on course.
But, we would need to be careful in selecting the mentors. They would need to be exemplary people, not criminal buddies coming in to take advantage of this system. While it would be wonderful to match prisoners with someone from their own neighborhood, that will often not be possible. It will have to suffice to choose them a mentor who lives close enough to the prison to visit often, and close to the prisoner's home only when that is practical.
There is a cost to having a great society, a price to be paid, and sometimes it is not monetary. If we would have a great society, where prisoners are rehabilitated more often, we should invest ourselves. If we would do this, we would stand a better chance of rehabilitating our prisoners.
There are great benefits to such a suggestion. One, the prisoner can use the example, the friendship and the direction. Two, such a program invests the community in the process of rehabilitating the prisoner. When the prisoner exits his cell, he will benefit by having an example and friend on the outside, to help keep him on course.
But, we would need to be careful in selecting the mentors. They would need to be exemplary people, not criminal buddies coming in to take advantage of this system. While it would be wonderful to match prisoners with someone from their own neighborhood, that will often not be possible. It will have to suffice to choose them a mentor who lives close enough to the prison to visit often, and close to the prisoner's home only when that is practical.
There is a cost to having a great society, a price to be paid, and sometimes it is not monetary. If we would have a great society, where prisoners are rehabilitated more often, we should invest ourselves. If we would do this, we would stand a better chance of rehabilitating our prisoners.
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