Thursday, July 13, 2017

Inmates are the Scourge of the Earth

To most people, inmates of prisons are the scum of the earth. How many times have I heard the “He did the crime, he must do the time” and how often have I heard derogatory remarks about prisoners? We watch the news or read the newspapers and actually get a kick out of reading about another person who is put in jail for a long period of time. Inmates are viewed as the scourge of society and I am going to do my very best to show the world that prisoners are people too. I think the worst thing I heard being said about an inmate is that “I hope he rots in jail”, or “he does not deserve to be treated like a human being and therefore should have no human rights”.

I made a commitment today – a commitment to the young and old men in Medium B at St Alban’s Prison. I have committed myself to be their liaison officer, their mentor, their go-between, their friend and their confidante. Against doctors’ orders and the absolute horror expressed by my mom and my husband, I went and did a three-hour workshop on debating, reviewing and writing skills for approximately 25 men. I don’t know who had the better time – they or I. I had an amazing time spent with such an incredibly diverse and yet coherent group of men. Not once did I feel threatened in any way. I was in a very safe space, no wardens around and just the inmates and me.

I prepared nothing – I was skating on my arse with the experience I already had. They had prepared so many things for me; two reviews on one of my books, a Capella with rap, poetry written and recited to me … they were amazing. And Heinrich van Rooyen organized all that to take place. A huge big thank you must go to Mr PC Plaatjies, the warden who made this all possible.

We were serious, we laughed, we squealed with delight – there was nothing but sheer joy in that classroom for three hours today.

Those are not animals in there, as I have also heard them described. They are gentlemen; they are intelligent, pleasing to the eye and most entertaining. And each and every one of them have crept into my heart. As I always have to have something greater than I am to live for, I will be living for this group of amazing human beings as well.

Who amongst us all, have not committed a sin? Who amongst us all, have never made a mistake? It was a privilage and an honor to spend those three hours in their company. Those are my boys now!