You know those American prisoners who have to live in tents, wear flip-flops, orange boiler suits and/or pink underpants?
Yeah?
Did you know they're only on remand awaiting trial and havent even been found innocent or guilty yet?
So nice to know a man can be falsely accused and possibly die in prison (without ever getting to court and being exhonerated) from one of a host of diseases or 'accidents', having been marched past his neighbours between camps, paraded in flip flop sandals and pink underwear.
Anyway, aside from that, another blogger who has strong feelings about this HAS been judged and found guilty and gone off to 'proper prison' (he ran music events, there were drugs, he as owner got done, silly boy) - but he happens to be highly educated, intelligent and very very witty and funny. I guess when you live under certain conditions a sense of humour becomes top on the list of essential survival equipment.
If you can get past the shock at what he puts up with on a daily basis, the guy is FUNNY (and patient, and thoughtful and kind and optimistic.) The latest post is about encarcerated farting.
He writes letters home, and family put them into the blog, so if you want to comment DO - he'll get it, but the best favour you can do him is write him a real 'on paper' letter. How many letters a prisoner gets has a strong effect on how much respect he gets, too. Having post makes the natives friendlier.
Me? I'm spring cleaning. If you worked out my age according to the number of springs when I cleaned, gee, I'd be underage for anything you care to think of - but that just means it desperately needs doing.
Nothing going on here today folks, but I truly recommend Jon's Jail Journal.
Say Hi from me!
1 comment:
Will go and visit - thanks Mad Baggage!
I wonder how many people realise what it means to be held on remand without any rights? Of course the criminals need to be dealt with but it also means that perfectly innocent people like you or me "could" be picked up and incarcerated. The likelihood is low but it does happen.
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller
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