Entry #23 - As Opposed to "The Other" - 19.February.2008



As Opposed to “The Other” by Bruce

The allure to an existence where people and issues are polarized is seductively simplistic. Us versus Them, Good versus Evil, Upright versus Criminal. Unfortunately, a world split neatly into polemic parts is the stuff of Aesop’s Fables and Mother Goose. Real life comes not in black and white but rather a thousand shades of grey. As a society, we continue to cling to dichotomies because they disentangle decisions and help to establish personal identity through creation of an “other”. I am that “other”.

At 29 years old, I find myself several years into a federal prison bid for the distribution of narcotics. Nearing my release date, I’m anxious about how I will be received by the community. I am aware of how some will view me. Thus, in spite of having paid my debt to society, I am prepared to deal with prejudgments and condemnations. The truth is that I expect them.

For similar reasons, within the current political climate, the debate on criminal justice remains largely one-sided. Governed by a culture of vengeance, fear and anger constantly trumps common sense. Motivated by self-interest, lawmakers keep the prison population faceless, allowing them to pass stricter laws and extended sentences.

FACTS:

It should be noted that both the reach of the Fed’s jurisdiction and the type of inmates housed in federal facilities has expanded to include far less nefarious individuals, such as petty drug cases and tax fraud. People don’t realize how close they are to joining us until it’s too late.

As overcrowding reaches epidemic proportions and abysmal living conditions continue to decline, it is clear that the state of “corrections” is in dire straits. But facts and statistics don’t tell the half of it. Every inmate has a story, a life and extenuating circumstances surrounding their case. Without passing the buck of responsibility or mining for sympathy, my arrest was complicated be severe depression, drug addiction and familial illness and crisis. Most inmates have friends and family who love and depend on them. I’d venture to say that every time an individual is locked up, it adversely affects at least ten other lives. The mandatory minimum grid that currently dictates federal penalties is ill equipped to deal with the human element of these situations.

Legislation has been proposed many times to address prison reform (most recently The Second Chance Act—currently stalled on the Senate Floor), but given the public’s perception of the accused as “other”, these bills have died due to their low priority.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that no party is completely innocent, nor totally at fault. Offenders have been found guilty of crimes against society. We must not omit this since victims, when identifiable, must remain central to the dialogue. Corrections, however, is an industry. Privatizers of prisons pursue profits by lobbying for more laws and harsher sentences. Politicians continue to exploit their “tough on crime” agendas in re-election campaigns. The construction and operation of prisons create jobs for declining industrial towns devastated by the move toward globalization, spearheaded by the afore-mentioned bureaucrats. All in all, post-9/11 enforcement inexorably moves us closer and closer to a police state.

The general populace remains uninformed and uninvolved in relevant discourse, while prisoners remain invisible. Out of sight, out of mind. It is with this perspective that Aaron Scott of Attica! Attica! (featured in February’s “A.P. Recommends”) and I came up with the idea to post my “Letters from the Inside” on his website, www.AtticaAttica.org. The mission of his current musical project is “to give recognition to the struggles that are hidden or left in the margins”. Likewise, with my reflections, it is my intention to give a face and personal depiction of our nation’s criminal justice system.

Though some of my writings have been used in collegiate settings, I was most motivated to address the punk rock community. Growing up active on the punk/hardcore scene, I was always inspired by the diversity of topics represented. At shows, I encountered open-minded folks discussing everything from animal rights to the Zapatista movement. Free from corporate filters or the censorship of the status quo, D.I.Y. culture has always stood as a voice for the voiceless. It is perhaps the scene’s greatest asset.

I believe that fostering understanding and identification through honest communication is key to approaching issues. It is indispensable when developing an accurate worldview. This was another reason I wanted to address a youth movement.

Ignorance breeds apathy. Conversely, when the dogma of “other” is overcome, connection, and therefore progression, is possible.

In a world segregated by prejudices, compassion is radical, intimacy is subversive, and empathy is an act of a truly revolutionary mind.