Is it just me or does it strike you too, that so much of American perspective and opinion these days is anchored in the illusive fluff of carefully perpetuated sound-byte argumentation- designed to shut down possible discussions by making pervasive assumptions about the people that would hold an opposing viewpoint. If you dare to question the policies followed, behaviors taught/allowed, or intention behind the reality of modern warfare- “You’re demeaning the brave soldiers that have fought and died for your freedom.” If you dare to propose that the water in the river is more important to the health of unquantifiable life forms than the pipeline that threatens to pollute it- “You’re a radical leftist environmentalist scum who’s obviously trying destroy the economy.” If you dare to question the practices at work inside our Prisons, also ironically known as “Correctional Facilities,” or bring up the benefits of listening to the perspective of someone who is subject to its abuses– “You’re letting the worst of the worse off the hook and putting all of our communities at risk.” This is where my patience wears thin. The men and women in the armed forces are our brothers and sisters (until they return home with PTSD, cant get a job, and are busking for change on the street), but those that have been incarcerated are garbage not worth recycling. Ask anyone who’s brother, sister, mother or father has been incarcerated if their family deserves to be touched, to continue their education, to participate in healthy social activities that heal their psycho-social wounds rather than inflict deeper ones- and guess what they would say. If we are honest about the major intention in the founding of this country it was for the land-owning class to keep the benefits being harvested by the back-breaking slave labor upon stolen land. If we are honest about the present income inequality that persists (and has reached its most poignant polarity) it is for the benefit of the company-owning class to reap the benefits of all lower-class labor that consents to giving time for the meager rewards given in exchange. When we look at the Prison-class, and what it is further becoming with the privatization of prisons, what we see emerging is permanent population that is basically being created from impoverished communities. A population that is stripped of all civilian rights, entrapped by a system that more often laughs at due process than respects it. A population that is now being forced to work for a wide variety of major corporations via sub-contractors. A population, a work-force that has little option but to do what its told or face brutal and traumatic circumstances. When Profit is prioritized about people, this is what results. There are very good reasons for sending people to prison. Some of those reasons should more often include war-crimes and money laundering. Harmful human behaviors should be punished, but they should also be healed. Perpetuating the pain of people that most often grew up in very painful circumstances is only going to maintain this new slave-class. Providing meaningful programs to educate, heal deep psychological wounds and guide into personal responsibility and self-progression will provide new-found strength that will ripple out into our communities and culture. Reform is possible, but it needs our participation and dedication to a humane, compassionate, and ecoLogical paradigm shift. mixcloud/outerlimitsradioshow/americas-fastest-growing-industry-outer-limits-24-january-2015/
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 06:11:16 +0000
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