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Another disturbing aspect of our nature highlighted in the film is the way in which many of us view the downtrodden with contempt, and that the more debased a human being is, the more likely others are to treat them with inhumanity. We see this in the general contempt many have for “the poor,” with the way many are more likely to excuse criminal behavior from one dressed sharply (an officer) than from a person shabbily dressed (ghetto youth). CS Lewis makes an excellent point that the better we treat people the more we like them, and that the inverse is also true. In mere Christianity, Lewis writes, “The Germans, perhaps, at first ill-treated the Jews because they hated them: afterwards they hated them much more because they had ill-treated them. The more cruel you are, the more you will hate; and the more you hate, the more cruel you will become — and so on in a vicious circle for ever.”
originally posted by: zosimov
a reply to: Boadicea
There are absolutely (who would disagree?) people who deserve every inch of their cell. The criminals who harm others with no regard have little sympathy from me (although I would still hold out for the chance of rehabilitation, I wouldn't hold my breath).
HOWEVER, we really should be aware of all that prison/jail robs from a person and make sure the ones in there have really done something deserving of losing physical and psychological health, freedom, sunlight, contact from family, individual dignity, etc.
I really want to spend my time and energy here in empowering endeavors if I can. I believe many of us feel the same way.
Also-- just really wanted to say that your idea that we are teaching kids might makes right by enforcing unjust law is so right. Very incisive way of thinking about it, and I agree.
originally posted by: bigfatfurrytexan
a reply to: zosimov
The stanford experiment was instrumental in forming my management style.
Power=responsibility. Greatness lies in reapecting that relationship.
originally posted by: Azureblue
a reply to: zosimov
The united states imprisons more of its population than any other country irrespective how you chose to measure it.
I doubt there is any such thing as the prison industrial complex IMO. Its simply the profit motive and the greed the profit motive fosters and encourages.
The whole just-us system is motivated and driven by profit hence the foreseeable consequence of:
Both the MIC and PIC are terms, figures of speech. They describe things essentially intangible, but very real. The terms are useful in discussion of societal phenomena.
What does it all add up to - very corrupted politicians, judiciary and prison operators. If these people are corrupted and engage in corrupt business practices where do they belong?
Those who were behind the privatisation of the just-us and prison system, in the first place, must have been well aware of the likely out come.
Now the corruption and greed is so deeply entrenched its likely to take scores of decades to undo.