Prison Hospice
This "Garry Rubenstein" was a neighbor of mine back in Calabasas. He may even have been on my paper route.
I never knew him back in the day, nor even of him, as I recall. But some of the names of people who did know him back then seem to ring a bell. But ... I even begin in digression ... dang it.
The point is that this prison hospice program is providing a bit of compassion toward dying inmates, manned at least partly by other inmates who volunteer for the job and allegedly are carefully screened.
Think about that.
This is, in theory, criminals caring for other criminals who are dying. At the very least; it seems on its face, like a fiscally responsible choice of personnel.
And what better way to put those volunteering inmates in a place to have a reckoning with others' mortality - and with their own?
Why not?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Robin Hood
The old description of Robin Hood "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" has - at least in my lifetime - been somewhat romanticized and viewed as something like taking the high moral ground, and perhaps rightly so. But context is important.
In my understanding, the legend or mythology of Robin Hood is that he took back from oppressive and thieving "government" (royalty) some of the wealth or monies unrighteously taken from "the people." This is quite different from the brand of "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" that we have going on now in the U.S. Redistribution of the wealth of people who have actually EARNED it to those who earn NOTHING (or very little) is quite different indeed. In fact, the Robin Hood story tells of taking stolen or extorted wealth back from those who arguably didn't earn it, and were oppressing those who did earn it, reversing some of the damage. More of that kind of thing would do us some good now in the U.S.
But as things are now, many elected and appointed officials in D.C. still seem intent on increasing taxes on the "rich" (those who actually PRODUCE wealth and create jobs) and giving that wealth to those who don't produce wealth or create jobs - after taking a substantial slice of that pie for themselves and their socialist programs. This is really quite the opposite of the Robin Hood story. But too few realize it.
In my understanding, the legend or mythology of Robin Hood is that he took back from oppressive and thieving "government" (royalty) some of the wealth or monies unrighteously taken from "the people." This is quite different from the brand of "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor" that we have going on now in the U.S. Redistribution of the wealth of people who have actually EARNED it to those who earn NOTHING (or very little) is quite different indeed. In fact, the Robin Hood story tells of taking stolen or extorted wealth back from those who arguably didn't earn it, and were oppressing those who did earn it, reversing some of the damage. More of that kind of thing would do us some good now in the U.S.
But as things are now, many elected and appointed officials in D.C. still seem intent on increasing taxes on the "rich" (those who actually PRODUCE wealth and create jobs) and giving that wealth to those who don't produce wealth or create jobs - after taking a substantial slice of that pie for themselves and their socialist programs. This is really quite the opposite of the Robin Hood story. But too few realize it.
Friday, August 5, 2011
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