Sunday Musings - September 8, 2024
Throw away people
It was with great sadness I read of another school shooting, another overdose death, another domestic violence incident, another incident of sexual abuse of young children, more war killings, another armed robbery, and of the many other ways we humans continue to treat each other as less than; of the inability of some to consider the rights and needs of their neighbors.
I clearly understand the sadness, grief, anger and overall frustration of those who are victims of violent or other hurtful acts. I can only imagine the grief of family members, friends and colleague of those who are victims of fatal violent acts.
At the same time, I do not understand why, given our increased knowledge of some of the factors which affect the neurological functioning of the human brain, we continue to believe that punishment of those who are unable to consider the right and needs of each other is going to result in a more loving and just society.
It is no secret our jails and prison system are created for punishment. Despite a few rehabilitation programs within the prison system, anyone who has worked or lived in such a system knows the system is designed to destroy those who are sentenced to them. There are those who do manage to use the time in prison to reflect on their behavior and design a new, path for themselves. There are employees of judicial system and the prisons who treat the inmates with love and respect. My ex-wife, several of my colleagues, and others I know and admire have and do work within the prison system and treat the inmates with love and respect. Sadly, this is the exception, rather than the rule.
Often, from the time a person whose arrest and charge are reported in local news outlet it seems as if the decision has been made to treat them as a non- person, as a throw away person. Seldom, when I read or listen to a news report, do I sense an awareness that the accused is deserving of love and support; that the accused is the son or daughter, the aunt or uncle, the mother, dad, or neighbor who is deserving of love and support. Seldom do I read or hear of the fact that this person has been “unable” to consider the rights and needs of others.
We live in a culture in which it is considered normal and moral to use emotional, judicial, and military violence in response to violence or other behavior we deem unacceptable. We label others as enemies and deserving of our judgement. Even though we make efforts to resolve some “situations” diplomatically, often, as is the case with Israel, Ukraine and other countries, we supply many lethal weapons. Violence and threats of violence often seems to be our go to approach.
If a private citizen decides he or she has a right to use violence we either applaud the action as self-defense or vilify the person as deserving of punishment. Thus, the 14-year-old school shooter, Colt Gray, is being charged as an adult with murder. So is his father, Colin Gray, who allowed his son to have weapons despite apparent mental health issues. A 19-year-old young man, Robert Thompson, is sentenced to 19 years in prison for a robbery shooting incident in the parking lot of local restaurants. I have no idea how many years Robert might serve; perhaps less with time off for good behavior; perhaps more for behavior while in prison attempting to survive.
I could list many other examples of throw away people I read about in the local newspapers or hear about on local, national or international news reports.
Many of those throw away people will return again and again to prison. Our recidivism rate in the United States is somewhere between 45 and 82 percent depending on which source one believes. It is one of the highest in the world. Clearly the system is not “rehabilitating” despite some classes, other program, and some very dedicated teachers, counselors, physicians and guards. The system is designed to dehumanize the inmates and the staff.
Punishment does not work for those who are mentally ill or for those who for other reason are UNABLE to consider the right and needs of others. It does not work for anyone.
Regardless of one’s religious beliefs one can appreciate the teaching of Jesus, the Buddha and many others who challenge us to love our enemies (making them non-enemies), focusing on removing the log in our own eye rather than the spec in the eye of our neighbor, nurturing others and ourselves, accepting the complicated nature of our thought process; accepting there are no throw away humans,
The person who is reading this and disagrees is not a throw away human. The person who is reading this and agrees is not a throw away human. Neither Colt Gray, as terrible as his action was, nor his father are throw away humans. The persons with an addiction to alcohol, other drugs, food, gambling, power, sex, or even sexual activity with a young child are not throw away humans. That are those who are dangerous and need to be in a secure facility receiving professional and loving treatment.
Those of us who follow research know negative treatment does not create positive outcomes. Treating others as throw away people does not result in healthy, contributing community members.
Written September 8, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Throw away people
It was with great sadness I read of another school shooting, another overdose death, another domestic violence incident, another incident of sexual abuse of young children, more war killings, another armed robbery, and of the many other ways we humans continue to treat each other as less than; of the inability of some to consider the rights and needs of their neighbors.
I clearly understand the sadness, grief, anger and overall frustration of those who are victims of violent or other hurtful acts. I can only imagine the grief of family members, friends and colleague of those who are victims of fatal violent acts.
At the same time, I do not understand why, given our increased knowledge of some of the factors which affect the neurological functioning of the human brain, we continue to believe that punishment of those who are unable to consider the right and needs of each other is going to result in a more loving and just society.
It is no secret our jails and prison system are created for punishment. Despite a few rehabilitation programs within the prison system, anyone who has worked or lived in such a system knows the system is designed to destroy those who are sentenced to them. There are those who do manage to use the time in prison to reflect on their behavior and design a new, path for themselves. There are employees of judicial system and the prisons who treat the inmates with love and respect. My ex-wife, several of my colleagues, and others I know and admire have and do work within the prison system and treat the inmates with love and respect. Sadly, this is the exception, rather than the rule.
Often, from the time a person whose arrest and charge are reported in local news outlet it seems as if the decision has been made to treat them as a non- person, as a throw away person. Seldom, when I read or listen to a news report, do I sense an awareness that the accused is deserving of love and support; that the accused is the son or daughter, the aunt or uncle, the mother, dad, or neighbor who is deserving of love and support. Seldom do I read or hear of the fact that this person has been “unable” to consider the rights and needs of others.
We live in a culture in which it is considered normal and moral to use emotional, judicial, and military violence in response to violence or other behavior we deem unacceptable. We label others as enemies and deserving of our judgement. Even though we make efforts to resolve some “situations” diplomatically, often, as is the case with Israel, Ukraine and other countries, we supply many lethal weapons. Violence and threats of violence often seems to be our go to approach.
If a private citizen decides he or she has a right to use violence we either applaud the action as self-defense or vilify the person as deserving of punishment. Thus, the 14-year-old school shooter, Colt Gray, is being charged as an adult with murder. So is his father, Colin Gray, who allowed his son to have weapons despite apparent mental health issues. A 19-year-old young man, Robert Thompson, is sentenced to 19 years in prison for a robbery shooting incident in the parking lot of local restaurants. I have no idea how many years Robert might serve; perhaps less with time off for good behavior; perhaps more for behavior while in prison attempting to survive.
I could list many other examples of throw away people I read about in the local newspapers or hear about on local, national or international news reports.
Many of those throw away people will return again and again to prison. Our recidivism rate in the United States is somewhere between 45 and 82 percent depending on which source one believes. It is one of the highest in the world. Clearly the system is not “rehabilitating” despite some classes, other program, and some very dedicated teachers, counselors, physicians and guards. The system is designed to dehumanize the inmates and the staff.
Punishment does not work for those who are mentally ill or for those who for other reason are UNABLE to consider the right and needs of others. It does not work for anyone.
Regardless of one’s religious beliefs one can appreciate the teaching of Jesus, the Buddha and many others who challenge us to love our enemies (making them non-enemies), focusing on removing the log in our own eye rather than the spec in the eye of our neighbor, nurturing others and ourselves, accepting the complicated nature of our thought process; accepting there are no throw away humans,
The person who is reading this and disagrees is not a throw away human. The person who is reading this and agrees is not a throw away human. Neither Colt Gray, as terrible as his action was, nor his father are throw away humans. The persons with an addiction to alcohol, other drugs, food, gambling, power, sex, or even sexual activity with a young child are not throw away humans. That are those who are dangerous and need to be in a secure facility receiving professional and loving treatment.
Those of us who follow research know negative treatment does not create positive outcomes. Treating others as throw away people does not result in healthy, contributing community members.
Written September 8, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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