Inmates

There's so much to talk about - movies I've seen, places and people I've recently visited but something important caught my attention while surfing uselessly through various blogs.

Last week the spotlight was once again on the Cebu inmates when Michael Jackson's choreographer visited and even made a dance video with them. Then the other day, Mo Twister, posted this on his blog:

I've had several opportunities to interact with prisoners from the maximum prison in Muntinlupa. I've also done research on them and Philippine Government's rehabilitation program. I am honestly disappointed by Mo's entry. His blog gets over 100,000 readers a day. His opinion matters. And his opinion on this issue has put us several decades back into the days when criminals are discriminated and boxed out of society. 

We have prisons not just to punish them but more importantly to rehabilitate them, to give them another chance at becoming productive citizens. 

Mo does have a point, it must be very difficult for victims of these rapists, murderers, thieves to see them dancing. Forgiveness does not come easily when one is in such terrible pain. And everyone symphatizes with the victims. 

But like the victims, like us, prisoners are humans too. They made mistakes, they committed sins and crimes. Yes they should be punished, but they should be given a chance to change too, to hope. I will never know how  it feels for the victims to see the inmates dancing and becoming all of a sudden liked by all. It must be very difficult.

But see it this way: I think the dancing, all the attention has given these prisoners a spark of hope, that hey, I can be productive again, maybe I can change. In fact they even donated the proceeds of the video to the victims of Ondoy. 

These acts of kindness  do not change the fact of our sins. But our sins should not be the be-all and end-all of our person. 

I don’t want to offend anyone here who enjoys watching these Cebu dancing inmates videos, but quite honestly, they’re stupid.  I’m sick and tired of them being featured on the news, newspapers, blogs, etc.  I don’t find them the least bit entertaining and the main reason I don’t is because these criminals are in fact that—criminals.  And bear in mind, this is a goddamn maximum security prison, meaning the place houses the most heinous of criminals.  And yet, the world gets a kick out of watching them dancing to Michael Jackson songs?  Well, let me tell you who else is not amused by all the attention these criminals are getting; you guessed it right, the victims and their families.

Imagine you or a close family member was a rape or murder victim.  After the investigation, arrest, and verdict, you feel like some sort of justice was served and you hope the punishment is severe. They have definitely earned it.  They have stripped so much from you—parts of your life that you likely will never see or experience again.  Cut to a few months or years, you’ve begun to try to piece back your life together, and then all of a sudden you turn on the TV and on the news is that familiar face, the face you know you’d never forget and yet would never want to be reminded of.  What is he doing? Dancing to fuckin’ Thriller while the newscasters seem to think it’s cute and amazing.  Next thing you know, it’s on CNN and on TMZ.com.  It’s the headline on Yahoo! and one of the more viewed videos on YouTube.  Great, these menaces to society have become celebrities, heralded as five minutes of great entertainment.

Some of you will disagree with me and think this is a good thing because it’s teaching them to stay away from their violent ways and it gives an opportunity to rehabilitate them.  Okay, fine.  Perhaps you believe in the rehabilitation of our prison or maybe you likely feel that way because you’re not a victim scarred by the hands of one of these criminals--and neither am I.  But I think I have enough sensitivity toward the victims to not support this kind of bullshit.  If my child was victimized by one of these guys, I’ll tell you right now, there ain’t gonna be any fuckin’ dancing. 

I've had several opportunities to interact with prisoners from the maximum prison in Muntinlupa. I've also done research on them and Philippine Government's rehabilitation program. 

I get where Mo is coming from. He feels that it is an upfront to the victims of crimes to see these criminals dancing and having fun. In fact, if you read the comments section, people who claim to be victims themselves agrees with Mo. An I do not blame the victims for feeling that way, for calling criminals demons. And though I believe in forgiveness and unconditional love, one cannot be blamed for feeling hatred towards someone who has caused you unjust pain and harm. Healing takes time.

But still, I am honestly disappointed by Mo's entry. His blog gets over 100,000 readers a day. His opinion matters. And his opinion on this issue has put us several decades back into the days when criminals are discriminated and boxed out of society. If you read the comments section you'll read how a lot of the commentors have found strength in Mo's blog to curse and damn to hell the inmates. 

We have prisons not just to punish them but more importantly to rehabilitate them, to give them another chance at becoming productive citizens. 

Mo does have a point, it must be very difficult for victims of these rapists, murderers, thieves to see them dancing. Forgiveness does not come easily when one is in such terrible pain. And everyone symphatizes with the victims. 

But for us who have been fortunate enought to not have been victimized, who can think more logically, more rationally, without the hindrance of pain, something more is expected of us in dealing with prisoners. Like the victims, like us, prisoners are humans too. They made mistakes, they committed sins and crimes. Yes they should be punished, but they should be given a chance to change too, to hope. I will never know how  it feels for the victims to see the inmates dancing and becoming all of a sudden liked by all. It must be very difficult.

But see it this way: I think the dancing, all the attention has given these prisoners a spark of hope, that hey, I can be productive again, maybe I can change. In fact they even donated the proceeds of the video to the victims of Ondoy. 

These acts of kindness  do not change the fact of our sins. But our sins should not be the be-all and end-all of our person.