A few days ago I was talking with a tribe member and he reminded me that many of the jails/prisons are now run by corporations. Corporations are people too....is that a quote from Mitt Romney running through my mind?? That got me thinking about recidivism again. Corporations live, breathe and survive on ...mmmm...profits, right?? Seems they depend on new "customers" and/or "repeat customers"...just like the Priority Club at Holiday Inn, eh? If the bed is empty, they lose money...profits, remember? This does not bode well for a lower recidivism rate, does it?? Of course, the prisoner does NOT have to fall back into criminal behavior, but one does wonder....does a corporation feel motivated to attempt to rehabilitate the inmates?? OR is there some hope...even untoward...that s/he might return and thereby fill another bed...increase profits?? Anyone out there with an opinion on this??? Just curious... Ahhhh...it has been foggy here in the NW these days...so foggy this morning that i cannot see the freeway which is approximately 100 yards from my "slit-window"! There's a poem...by....mmmmm....who wrote this: Fog, cat, harbor, haunches, quiet?? ** It's times like this that I miss Google yet, in the past couple of months, I've surprised myself at what I can recall! :) I found a search engine between my ears! HAH! Think I mentioned that I have requested to be moved to a different jail, one that has 1-2 man cells vs this 20 man slumber party I have been occupying for over 90 days. Perhaps I'll get a much better sleep. Hopefully more sleep will mean less depression. BUT...I will be giving up my "slit-window" and the perfect view of Mt. Rainier. Seeing Rainier almost every day is a bit like that O'Henry story...the one about the ivy leaf painted on the wall. (Editor's note: found that story at http://learningenglish.voanews.com/content/a-23-2009-07-31-voa2-83141882/117083.html. You can listen or read!) The leaf that didn't fall throughout the autumn and winter kept the bedridden woman alive. Seeing her (the mountain Rainier!) reminds me that I have the strength to get through this. I have days that feel as tho' I am one catalyst away from totally crashing. Then I look out the window and see the sun gently kissing Rainier, making her blush a pale pink. As I watch, she speaks to me.... "It will all be good, it will all work out." Here's a haiku...just feels right: Everything that was
Has vanished from my aged heart Leaving not a trace - Lio Sogi (1421-1502)
1 Comment
Susan Howe
2/12/2015 07:59:09 am
I could recall "The fog comes in on little cats' feet" but not the author. It is one of my fav phrases. :>)) So what is the story on the change of venue?
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AuthorPatrick Michael Leonard Archives
August 2020
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