It was heart wrenching to read this article on Washington post. Normally, my attention span is for a minute or two max, just read first few lines or paragraphs and scroll to end to wrap it up and move to next. However, this article, forced me to read it twice.. thrice.. to understand and absorb the extremities of human cruelty, human hope, beauty of life.. free life.. essentially.. this article summarizes all the aspects of HUMANITY itself.
To summarize, this is the story of Mr. Ligon a.k.a. Mr. Joe. Now 83 year old, spent last 68 years of his life in prison/s (6 different institutions), cancer survivor, in good health and spirits now.. for the crime, if he would have committed today as a teenager, he would be out in max 10 years (58 years before, at the age of 25).
It could have all together different outcome of what he would have been today, if he was released at the age of 25. He could have gotten his life back and who knows, all together successful person and living happy free life. or maybe not..
However / whatever he would have been or done with his life, it would have been his life! His free life!
Some could argue that, his life would have gone back towards violence, just like many of his family members. Many of his male family members were killed while he was in prison. However, why look for all the negatives, why not look at his sister and niece.. they are doing well.. In any case, I am sure that he would have done much better than in last 58 years of incremental prison time he got. Whatever, we say, he spend these extra 58 years, mainly due to color of his skin. But, I guess, we all know that.. Unfortunately, we aren't still making enough progress on this front..
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/02/19/joe-ligon-release/?arc404=true
The best part of the story is about Optimism, Hope, Happiness and Exuberance towards the free life for him. Obviously, at this age, his expectations from life are very small and simple. For most of us, it is next to impossible to empathize with him, forget about understanding what is going on with him.
Nevertheless, a happy beginning of another life chapter for Mr. Ligon.
Important thing is to continue to reform our justice system so we don't hand out these type of cruel punishments based on our prejudices towards race, color, religion.
Hope for the best!
