christmas in prison

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:03 pm

I am interested to know your opinions on this -

In the newspaper today, much fuss is being made of the prisoners being given christams dinner, cards to write and chocolates to eat.

I cannot see a problem with this, given that in tey are in prison and not allowed to g outside all year.

I am supposing that they have to be fed anyway so if they werent fed christams dinner they would be fed something else, anyway.

As for the cards and chocolates i understand that they do work within the prison to be paid a minimal wage in order to buy these things.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:10 pm

For the most part I don't see a problem with it either Leomon and Mint.

Except for the victims of these prisoners who may be dead or scared for life. I'm sure they would have liked to enjoy the Holidays as well.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:20 pm

CARLA;746108 wrote: For the most part I don't see a problem with it either Leomon and Mint.

Except for the victims of these prisoners who may be dead or scared for life. I'm sure they would have liked to enjoy the Holidays as well.

Unfortunately though carla, we live in a society where we no longer have the death sentence and we dont go about chopping off peoples hands like they do as punishments in some societies.

While i agree that the victims may also have liked to enjoy christmas, given that we are keeping these criminals in the prisons, i cannot see what else could be done with them

They could be denied chocolate and cards, but i cant quite see what that what accomplish given that thye rae already deprived of their freedom which is presumably the geratest punishment.

To be honest if i was guilty of a crime which carried a prison sentence of 30 years or similar, i would rather be put to death straight away than endure that.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:26 pm

Sounds like they are being treated as well as our military...better if you consider the prisoners aren't being shot at. Many in the military aren't where they want to be this Christmas either.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 12:48 pm

If they want to buy cards with their own "earned" money then I guess they can.

They have to eat as well but I think serving them a nice special meal is inappropriate. They're there to be punished not to have enjoyment of any kind. I don't agree with it myself.

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:52 pm

I think it's a good idea. Evil begets evil. If we treat prisoners as though they are dirt and not human, then that philosophy just keeps going around and around without end. That's what I believe, anyway. Why not show a little compassion and forgiveness on Christmas? No body knows the true story behind a prisoner. No one knows what kind of life they led in order to become criminals.

I feel for the victims. But I also feel for the criminals. And that's just my belief system, so I personally, do not feel it'd be inappropriate to show a little compassion during the holiday season, even to people who may not seem like they deserve it.

That's what Christ spoke of. And even if you don't believe in Christ, but still celebrate Christmas, it can't be denied that that is the root of Christmas. Christ taught forgiveness and loving the people whom we want to hate the most. That is the true lesson of this season.

So let the prisoners have chocolate and cards and Christmas dinner. And may their victims, dead or alive, have peace wherever they are.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:52 pm

My question is this....what does Christmas mean to a prisoner?

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:00 pm

very well expressed laney bug.

Alongfortheride - i would haope that the prisoners see christmas as a little ray of positivity in their lives - i mean to say that i hope they do not recieve good dinners and cardsa and chocolate all the time, as they are meant to be punished but yes, once a year they should be traeted well, and they should reflect on the meaning on this and how they will rearrange their lives.

but yes i also do believe that nobody knows the lives they led which have ended with them in prison.

laneybug · Post by **laneybug** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:10 pm

along-for-the-ride;746166 wrote: My question is this....what does Christmas mean to a prisoner?

I think that's a good question. But, you'd have to ask prisoners to get the real answer. We can only generalize. And I think generalizing any class of people, prisoners included, wouldn't make much sense.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:24 pm

along-for-the-ride;746166 wrote: My question is this....what does Christmas mean to a prisoner?

I hope it doesn’t mean chocolate and cards. I hope it means they know they have a God who loves them enough to send his son for them. I hope it means they have hope even though they are locked up. I hope it means that even though they are locked up they can be redeemed and free.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:54 pm

Clint;746195 wrote: I hope it doesn’t mean chocolate and cards. I hope it means they know they have a God who loves them enough to send his son for them. I hope it means they have hope even though they are locked up. I hope it means that even though they are locked up they can be redeemed and free.

I agree, Clint.

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Tue Dec 25, 2007 1:18 am

lemon_and_mint;746119 wrote: Unfortunately though carla, we live in a society where we no longer have the death sentence and we dont go about chopping off peoples hands like they do as punishments in some societies.

While i agree that the victims may also have liked to enjoy christmas, given that we are keeping these criminals in the prisons, i cannot see what else could be done with them

They could be denied chocolate and cards, but i cant quite see what that what accomplish given that thye rae already deprived of their freedom which is presumably the geratest punishment.

To be honest if i was guilty of a crime which carried a prison sentence of 30 years or similar, i would rather be put to death straight away than endure that.

And TVs and Playstations and don't forget most cons now-a-days have a smuggled in Mobile phone and access to hooch and dope and even class A drugs .

I don't feel sorry for them at all, if you break the law you should get punished .

BTS · Post by **BTS** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 11:14 am