Serving Life: A Dual Meaning (#3)

I watched an inspiring documentary narrated by Forest Whitaker on Netflix the other night called Serving Life.  It focused on inmates in a Louisiana prison who were serving life sentences, but also serving life by acting as caretakers in the prison's Hospice Center.  I really liked the duality of the title and the double entendre one could interpret from it.  The inmates were serving life sentences, but they were also serving the last days of others.  It gave a humanistic look at a population that is systematically stripped of their humanity on a daily basis and seen as nothing more than dangerous criminals.

While the narration used problematic and dehumanizing language such as "the worst of the worst" when referring to the prisoners at this specific center, I think overall the film's message was inspiring and a call to action.

It highlighted the therapeutic nature of the caretaker role for many of the "hardened criminals" at  the Angola Prison.  It showed the empathy gained from these deeply personal interactions with the dying inmates.  The prisoner who participated in the program said it changed their lives and worldview.  It made them question past actions and wonder if they had been exposed to this sooner, if they'd even be behind those walls.  You could see it in their eyes when they had to sit with patients who were in their last days.  It gave these men a sense of peace to comfort and assist these men who were dying.  It also made them question the things they had done in their past.  It gave them perspective and highlighted the importance of life and doing the right thing, even in the worst of circumstances.  

After viewing this film, I think an argument can be made for implementing more preventative measures for at-risk populations and providing the the opportunity to connect with other individuals on a more humanistic level.  Perhaps instilling a more interpersonal sense of others can lessen the acts of violent crimes.  

Again, this may be my highly idealistic perspective, but if we look at ourselves as a collective, the idea of coming together to create social change ins't that radical or romanticized.      

                                                               Observation
I heard that official deputizers with be at the Social Work tailgate party this weekend to register people to vote.  Elections are coming up November 5th, so make sure you are registered!  Here is a great website to get non-partisan information about delegates such as voting records and funding sources - Project Vote Smart.