Incarceration – it is something that I have thought of many times in my nearly 38 years on this planet.
Why? Because many years ago I learnt the difference between freedom and incarceration can be a single choice at a given moment in time.
I recently heard a story from someone who had gone along to see a woman called Celia Lashlie. Obviously, because of Chinese whispers it may not be 100% accurate, but it does cover the gist of the situation.
A young man was at a bar, he was a good young man. He had excellent school marks, and a great testimonial from his school. After a few drinks, an event occurred that was to change his life forever. He overheard a bouncer removing a patron for being disruptive, and the patron was verbally abusing the bouncer, including making racial comments. The young man, of the same race as the bouncer, took offence and hit the drunk patron, who fell, hit his head, and died. The young man is now in prison for a moments foolishness and bad luck.
Now, some would say he got what he deserved. But I have been that young man many times in my life. At parties, bars and pubs. Striking out in anger or stupidity or in the defence of a friend or even simply to try an impress a girl. I have done it sober and intoxicated.
Any one of those occasions could have resulted in me being in prison had fate decided to escalate the event.
As the father of a 2 year old, my greatest fear is for him to be involved in such a silly situation, either at the receiving end or the instigator.
The greatest challenge I see ahead is providing the environment that my son can develop the good sense and self esteem to never put himself in such a situation.
On a side note, I just found a blog of a guy who is about to go into prison. Very very bizarre, but also though provoking.