The facility has been on lockdown for the past two weeks here. Unfortunately, there were some people in here that made a TikTok video on a cell phone which showed a bunch of people partying, making food and hanging out. Apparently, this video got a lot of attention and the administration became aware, along with other authority figures. This prompted the lockdown. I strongly dislike these lockdowns because my routine gets interrupted and I can’t stay in contact with my family. There’s this annoying conflict within me that stirs up whenever this sort of thing happens. I don’t agree with punishing the entire population for the actions of a few. While it is ridiculous that someone had a cell phone inside of a prison and goes viral on TikTok, probably 90% of the population didn’t do anything to merit a punishment. They found out who committed the act and punished them appropriately. Why continue to punish everyone else? That being said, these people who insist on continuing to break the rules are making those of us who are truly making a commitment to change look very bad. And although there were only a few people that made the video, phones are still rampant as well as drugs and contraband in general. So the lockdown is still kind of justified. I believe in helping those who want to make a change in their life, but it seems like a lot of people don’t want to make that change. I believe that there should be changes in the laws to give less time for certain crimes like drug-related stuff because of all of the social factors that play into addiction, not to mention its a consensual crime. I still believe that, but it’s also true that some people are truly committed to criminal behavior. Rather than setting a bunch of people free or giving us these classes that people hardly take seriously, I wish someone would come up with a way to identify the people who are truly committed to doing the right thing. Almost like an “undercover boss” prison edition, where someone can see the effort people are making. Because sometimes, people’s choices to do the right things can’t be put on paper. The decisions to not sell drugs, use cell phones, make alcohol, run gambling tickets (which all make thousands in revenue a month) won’t ever be seen. A lot of people get away with it. But I suppose that is the essence of integrity, responsibility, and character. Doing the right things knowing that nobody will ever know for sure. Maybe thats where God comes in. That faith in God (our any sort of higher power) gives you the motivation to do the right thing for its own sake. A belief in objective morality and universal principles. I have faith that these principles end up being rewarded in the long run anyway, through relationships and inner peace, because they are so positively effective. The only thing I can do is try to help people see the same thing. And the best way to do that would be to live it and succeed, so people can see it’s possible and follow in that path. And slowly things change because people change. Like Gandhi said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
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