When we think we are better than others

September 27, 2014

The answers to virtually every struggle for survival is are in our head. We have been taught through impression, implication, understanding, our heritage, and our very education and training. When we understand the difference between penal institutions and correctional institutions we will come closer to “fixing one significant problem. When we understand the distinction between those of us who are crazy and those who think they are not, we will rid the world of massive amounts of sadness and trauma.

Every culture has social classes. These classes vary widely, but they are all very carefully monitored and cultivated. You say; not in our community. Ah, my dear friends and loved ones, we are all creatures of this game of life.  In Huxley’s Animal Farm, the pigs – now the ruling class – say to the others in the ruling body, “everyone is created equal, some are just more equal than others.” Our culture is no different. The old-money rich look down their noses at the nova-rich. The wealth strivers look askance at those who care to make their way in life “working nine to five”. And, it goes on from there right down the line until we reach whatever bottom one might ascribe.

Recently on a vacation in Washington State Jean and I visited the Daniel and Teresa and their wonderful children Tim, April, Lucy, Emma, and Thomas. They have chickens and have become very aware of the “pecking order” associated with chickens. The rooster rules unless he has competition; the senior hens peck and scold the younger, the younger look for the weakest and persecute until death. Our communities, whether spiritual, geographic, or ethnic are built on the same exact “pecking order”. We pay huge amounts in taxes to make sure that the welfare of the people is satisfied. Watch what happens when certain unclean people join our community. Several years ago a lady names Betty Perry chose not to pay her water bill because she had very little money. People were very kind to her at first; then, when she was not able to keep her yard up according to neighborhood standards, the neighborhood preservation police came to her house, knocked on her door and demanded that she come out and discuss her circumstances with them. When she came out they told they were going to have to arrest her. She said she needed to go in and call her son at which time they grabbed her, handcuffed her, and knocked her to the ground.

Another gentleman was convicted and spent several years paying his tribute to society. His was an egregious crime dealing with sexual activity with a minor. As heinous as his sins were, he was not sentenced to death; but to a significant prison and parole sentence. His name was to remain on the sex offender list or the remainder of the required ten years. The question as to his guilt or appropriate sentencing is not the issue. The issue most powerful in his and the millions of felons and repeat offenders is what can be done to bless their lives without limiting the freedoms and rights of others.

We have an incomprehensible number of people on prescription drugs. Most of these drugs are used in the very best way with significant health benefits. This use of drugs seems to be extremely well controlled and blesses the lives of many. We have approximately one percent of the United States Population in some form of criminal lock-up. Obvious with 65 to 80 percent recidivism rate we are not doing the best job on the planet helping people move from a liability to a public and personal asset. Those of us who have worked in a correctional facility have seen people who have no desire to follow the rules; however, there are many who wish to make positive things happen. One lady who I met while she was in prison had been involved in a family business which ended up being shut down because of crimes against children. Again, what is she do when she gets out? Better yet, what are we going to do as a culture to assist her in becoming an honorable, working citizen again?

These are deeply divisive questions with no easy answers. The is not to throw more money at the system; rather, to look deeply at the crevasse which impedes them from making the live changing decisions necessary and rid the system of those restraints that make that progress almost impossible. God bless each of you as you live, work, and enjoy the blessings of the Lord.

Duane Jacobs, grandfather, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend