This morning I heard a news report about an attempted act of terrorism in New York. The news report indicated that the terrorists had been recruited by militant groups in American prisons. This news disturbed me, though, sadly, I did not find it surprising. I feel strongly that our country’s prison system presents a threat to the national security.
When I was confined in higher-security prisons, I had to live among many hateful men. I chose not to watch television or movies because the groups were so vocal about their animosity to the United States. These were American prisoners, but they erupted in anger when law enforcement stormed that fortress in Waco, Texas; and they cheered Timothy McVeigh and his crew when the news came out about the bombing in Oklahoma. On September 11, some prisoners sided with the terrorists.
The prison system’s policy of extinguishing hope made fertile ground for militant groups with hateful ideologies to recruit. Even in minimum-security camps, a sense of resentment exists within some groups. As a prisoner, I’ve frequently felt unsafe at having to live in the midst of people who do not share my patriotism for this country.
With 2.3 million people incarcerated in our country, I think leaders ought to consider the wisdom of policies that extinguish hope for so many. Too many hateful groups recruit inside prison boundaries, and that presents a threat to our national security. When I heard the news report this morning about the terrorists who were apprehended in New York, I instantly thought back to all the hate groups that congregated regularly inside boundaries that one time locked me inside.
I remind myself that I have only a few more years of living inside this abnormal world of prison. I am so eager to get out, to begin living with my wife and feeling like an American rather than a prisoner.
This morning I began writing at 3:20. I finished an article for PrisonTalk.com about disciplinary infractions. I then ran 10 miles, followed that with a medicine ball workout and 300 push ups. My tally is now 1,422 miles over the past 160 days.
Thursday, 21 May 2009
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