Sex in Politics, God, and Correcting Our Corrections Systems
OP-ED By AnjaliReed Phukan
Since the dawn of time, people have ignored bad behavior, indulged in it, or degraded others for it, and this must change. Political sex scandals today, such as with Al Franken or Roy Moore, are no different. Sex is the bedrock and curse of humans. It's needed for population continuation, but improperly used it leads to war and disease. Sex fears also lead to self-centered resentments, addictions, and other sins.
Enter Jesus (probably spelled ישוע and pronounced Yeshua), who's lesson, called, “Pericope Adulterae,” was so controversial it isn't in the oldest manuscripts like Codex Sinaticus, my go-to for biblical study. This is not about religion – even Atheists can benefit from this philosophy. Breaking from the punishment law to stone an adulterer, Jesus directs her to “go and sin no more.”
Jesus, for example, teaches us to teach others Good Orderly Direction, rather than to punish. Our founding fathers understood this - our constitution's 8th amendment says there shouldn't be "cruel and unusual punishments." Yet, today's society is infatuated with punishment. Punishment is based in resentments, and Nelson Mandela, the first president of South Africa famously said, "having resentments is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will get sick."
Early Church leaders were afraid of others thinking Christianity sanctioned adultery, so most manuscripts have blank space indicating the passage was to be there. Yet, era commentaries referencing this event, suggest it was real, but hushed by influencers, including Saint Augustine, creator of “justified war” and “original sin” doctrine.
“Pericope Adulterae” teaches us that we can all have faults, but still have something worthy to life. People who had awful past trials may have valuable skills. And, through their recovery, they may develop insights to brings others into more God-centered ways.
Our “criminal justice” system needs reform, here and nationwide. We incarcerate many, and most aren't taught how to "sin no more," leading to costly repeat offenders. Our legal system bullies many who commit crimes of stupidity, without giving them the opportunity to learn, from interpersonal development to job training during sentences.
Even non-violent convicts are in cages for years with no sunlight or education, beaten and tormented by other inmates and staff; not inspired or educated upon release to “sin no more.”
Just as important, many correctional officers have serious PTSD from working in impossible conditions and moral injury from the way they had to treat inmates. The proof is awful. Correctional officer suicides are among the highest of any occupation.
Punishment prison industries also lead to long-term inflation because inmates are not working smarter and stronger while serving, nor once they leave; and because highly paid judges, lawyers, and corrections staff don't actually contribute to the GDP. This also leads to decreased taxes and increased government spending - and hence should be of concern to a comptroller.
The Comptroller of Maryland (where I am running) appoints someone to the Correctional Enterprise Management Council for inmates to work in prison and another to the Sundry Claims Board for prison inmates injured while working.
My vision is one where non-violent convicts who can keep a bonded word can sleep at home and come to jail to learn or work during the day. Where the guilty are seen as lacking knowledge of how to care for themselves and their neighbors, or how to sustain themselves legally and financially. Where people can learn in jail like Nelson Mandela, but without punishment for wanting to. Where the correction system actually corrects rather than punishes, which makes people worse. Where all imperfect people, can recover into respectable jobs, despite personal trials.
This isn't liberal or Republican – it's responsible. When people are convicted of doing wrong, the government has a responsibility to teach wrong-doers how to do things correctly. Teaching may be costly, but increased money for teachers could be found in decreased spending in letting non-violent compliant inmates sleep at home. This also decreases long-term revolving-door court costs. There are correctional officers willing to take classes that facilitate group therapy and teach yoga. There are people who want to volunteer to teach inmates (I'm currently waiting for approval to bring recovery meetings to jail as a volunteer).
Some of this solution may not be for all convicts, some may a year incarcerated to detox from drugs; murderers may need to live in prisons for life. But they all can become accountants, spiritual scholars, needed janitors, and future presidents, given faith, grace, and education to do the right thing.
Since the dawn of time, people have ignored bad behavior, indulged in it, or degraded others for it, and this must change. Political sex scandals today, such as with Al Franken or Roy Moore, are no different. Sex is the bedrock and curse of humans. It's needed for population continuation, but improperly used it leads to war and disease. Sex fears also lead to self-centered resentments, addictions, and other sins.
Enter Jesus (probably spelled ישוע and pronounced Yeshua), who's lesson, called, “Pericope Adulterae,” was so controversial it isn't in the oldest manuscripts like Codex Sinaticus, my go-to for biblical study. This is not about religion – even Atheists can benefit from this philosophy. Breaking from the punishment law to stone an adulterer, Jesus directs her to “go and sin no more.”
Jesus, for example, teaches us to teach others Good Orderly Direction, rather than to punish. Our founding fathers understood this - our constitution's 8th amendment says there shouldn't be "cruel and unusual punishments." Yet, today's society is infatuated with punishment. Punishment is based in resentments, and Nelson Mandela, the first president of South Africa famously said, "having resentments is like drinking poison and hoping your enemy will get sick."
Early Church leaders were afraid of others thinking Christianity sanctioned adultery, so most manuscripts have blank space indicating the passage was to be there. Yet, era commentaries referencing this event, suggest it was real, but hushed by influencers, including Saint Augustine, creator of “justified war” and “original sin” doctrine.
“Pericope Adulterae” teaches us that we can all have faults, but still have something worthy to life. People who had awful past trials may have valuable skills. And, through their recovery, they may develop insights to brings others into more God-centered ways.
Our “criminal justice” system needs reform, here and nationwide. We incarcerate many, and most aren't taught how to "sin no more," leading to costly repeat offenders. Our legal system bullies many who commit crimes of stupidity, without giving them the opportunity to learn, from interpersonal development to job training during sentences.
Even non-violent convicts are in cages for years with no sunlight or education, beaten and tormented by other inmates and staff; not inspired or educated upon release to “sin no more.”
Just as important, many correctional officers have serious PTSD from working in impossible conditions and moral injury from the way they had to treat inmates. The proof is awful. Correctional officer suicides are among the highest of any occupation.
Punishment prison industries also lead to long-term inflation because inmates are not working smarter and stronger while serving, nor once they leave; and because highly paid judges, lawyers, and corrections staff don't actually contribute to the GDP. This also leads to decreased taxes and increased government spending - and hence should be of concern to a comptroller.
The Comptroller of Maryland (where I am running) appoints someone to the Correctional Enterprise Management Council for inmates to work in prison and another to the Sundry Claims Board for prison inmates injured while working.
My vision is one where non-violent convicts who can keep a bonded word can sleep at home and come to jail to learn or work during the day. Where the guilty are seen as lacking knowledge of how to care for themselves and their neighbors, or how to sustain themselves legally and financially. Where people can learn in jail like Nelson Mandela, but without punishment for wanting to. Where the correction system actually corrects rather than punishes, which makes people worse. Where all imperfect people, can recover into respectable jobs, despite personal trials.
This isn't liberal or Republican – it's responsible. When people are convicted of doing wrong, the government has a responsibility to teach wrong-doers how to do things correctly. Teaching may be costly, but increased money for teachers could be found in decreased spending in letting non-violent compliant inmates sleep at home. This also decreases long-term revolving-door court costs. There are correctional officers willing to take classes that facilitate group therapy and teach yoga. There are people who want to volunteer to teach inmates (I'm currently waiting for approval to bring recovery meetings to jail as a volunteer).
Some of this solution may not be for all convicts, some may a year incarcerated to detox from drugs; murderers may need to live in prisons for life. But they all can become accountants, spiritual scholars, needed janitors, and future presidents, given faith, grace, and education to do the right thing.
Brandi Bohannon
Editor-In-Chief
ACNation News
Comments
Post a Comment