NPR did a great story about it today.
See, this ancient meditation technique has its roots in Buddhism.
And Alabama is a Christian state, where only Christians are your brothers.
Never mind that it is a secular practice, not currently affiliated with any religion.
Or that it works.
According to the article, "inmates who go through the course have a 20 percent reduction in disciplinary action. But it hasn't been an easy sell in Alabama, a state known for harsh punishment policies like chain gangs and hitching posts."
But that is far less important to legislators.
Click on the link to read the story and to listen to the radio report.
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133505880/at-end-of-the-line-prison-an-unlikely-escape
This really irritates me. *If* we were going by the constitution, isn't this secular practice MORE constitutional (and sanitary) than baptizing inmates in an old GE fridge, seeing as how prison is supposed to be an arm of the state? Even laying aside that so long as prisoners aren't coerced or forced into a practice that goes against their beliefs and therefore it is is of no concern whether or not this conflicts with ANY ideology, this apparently makes prisons safer. Isn't safer what we want for our prison guards and other employees? Surely paying for this (heathen!) program has to be cheaper than paying workers comp for a guard who gets attacked.
ReplyDeleteSomething that I found EXTREMELY interesting is in trying to find an Alabama newspaper to see how this story was portrayed there (because I have a deep interest in how religion is covered/portrayed/legislated), I found this:
http://www.al.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/meditation-class-helps-lower-violence-at-al/e184bcbaec304f3a9fc8dd0722adc464
and THIS:
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110205/NEWS/110209806
The same article with different headlines. Both from the Associated Press, and the second one even misspelled "inmates." Seriously, all you have to do is write a headline and you screw that up??? Really? Anyway, this is a super example of how the inner ring sets up what is of importance, trumping even the local news's need to cover the story.
On my search, I also saw several headlines referencing Buddhist Practices in the prison. I think this is part of the conservatism in our news coverage; pointing out that this practice is non-Christian. My view may be controversial, but I think many with power also have a vested interest in maintaining the religious status quo in our country and around the world (with the Ugandan homosexuality laws and the American backers being an example.)
I just do not understand why this is such a big deal... meditation is used for lots of things not just religion. I have to use it to help with my migranes which is medical. I guess this just does not seem news worthy to me. There really is no reason to not let inmates meditate, is it not better then them starting violence in the prison. Plus if they are going to make this a religious issue and say they can not meditate then what are they going to take all books out of the prison but Christian ones?
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