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by statueman from Los Angeles

Last Post 9 days, 19 hours Ago


The Armies of Compassion
Apr 11, 2008 | 7:36 AM
Category: News
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On April 9th President Bush signed a new "piece of legislation that will help give prisoners across America a second chance for a better life."  I was reminded about the article I read about Governor Bush in the late 90's telling about his struggles with Alcohol and his time in the National Guard.  I liked him immediately and hoped he would become our next president and of course... he did.

In his speech before signing the Second Chance Act of 2007 President Bush points out that though the government has a responsibity to help prisoners return to being "contributing members of society"  that the most important work is done "in faith-based communities and community-based groups. It's done on streets and small town community centers. It's done in churches and synagogues and temples and mosques."

I was very happy to see the report on Fox News Network and to hear the President talk about what he likes to call "members of the armies of compassion".  President Bush said,

"They help addicts and users break the chains of addiction. They help former prisoners find a ride to work and a meal to eat and place to stay. These men and women are answering the call to love their neighbors as they'd like to be loved themselves. And in the process, they're helping prisoners replace anger and suffering and despair with faith and hope and love."

But mostly as I read the transcript I was most appreciative when George Bush talked about his own struggle and redemption, "I was a product of a faith-based program. I quit drinking -- and it wasn't because of a government program. It required a little more powerful force than a government program in my case."

Now I don't care too much for "faith based" government grants merging with religious organizations but in some cases it's a good thing as long as it's services are used voluntarily.  The best programs out there need to be sought out and helped with long handled spoons so that the last phase... or the housing and re-entry stage is what needs the most attention.  Faith based organizations for ex-convicts are often weakest when it comes to helping a reformed prisoner get housing, family counseling and medical attention that  reflect the time and dedication they've put into the programs they are a part of.

This is indeed where the donut shop meets the soup kitchen.  Or as President Bush states, "the Second Chance Act will live up to its name; will help ensure that where the prisoner's spirit is willing, the community's resources are available."

"Where the prisoners spirit is willing."

I like that... We are indeed a nation with an Army of Compassion.  Would that this were an Army we could send overseas in the same way we send our Armed Forces.  Perhaps things like the Second Chance Act will provide for that one day.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 22
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craftyguy read my blog
Apr 12, 2008 | 12:08 AM

again with sarcasm? Bush is a wimp..like you
John_Schwada read my blog view my photos
Apr 12, 2008 | 11:50 AM

statue: bush may not be a brain surgeon but he's got heart. so do you....yeah something needs to be tried in addition to punishment...and indifference.
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 12, 2008 | 12:34 PM

Thanks John

The organizations are all out there. Some are abusive and uncompromisingly self righteous in the worst form of lookatmedogooderness. But most are the unsung hero's of the throw themselves on the hand grenade to save your buddied type who folks don't miss until the lookatme's have them closed down because they used portapoties instead of multi million dollar facilities.

Some folks would take $100,000 and start ten programs helping hundreds when others would take $100,000 and go in debt to use a building that helps less than fifty. Both have merit but the follow through is whats lacking. After a prisoner has shown they are willing to take the abusive program or the good program that gave them a place to stay out of trouble...at least, then their has to be something more social, more marketable, more well... worldly.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 12, 2008 | 9:27 PM

Bush's recovery was probably due to a very expensive private detox and rehab program along with membership in AA. Bush is also cocaine addict.
- What organizations are you talking about Staute? Please be specific. $100,000 for ten programs? 10,000 for each program? What kind of program? Who are these "lookatmedogooderness" types? You write as if you are involved in this type of work. Most conservs I know are pretty darn self-centered. Are you different?
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 2:01 PM

DMMickie

The kind of programs I'm talking about are the fly by night Christian recovery houses and ranches that small church groupsstart inorder to address the immediate need for families with drug addicts in their congregations. Most of these organizations never really organize or make the news papers or referral lists of larger recovery centers.

It's the nature of the business... it's not a business nor should it be run as one. The truth is if you are giving out free room and board the last thing you want to do is advertise beyond letting ministers and responsible friends know so that specific needs might be addressed.
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 2:17 PM

DMMickie to continue

Not letting my left hand know what my right hand is doing is key.

I believe in the teaching of a man who my republican friends claim to believe in whole heartedly when he says "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven." And further goes on to say "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

With that all I can say is that interest in these types of organization requires alittle footwork besides just writing a check. I can see by your words though that you have in your life been merciful to these types of organizations. "He that is kind to the poor lends to His maker." These are the hidden revelations of the truely responsible person be they conservative, liberal or independent in thier body politic. (or for a more direct answer starfed_bp@yahoo.com is my email address)
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 5:36 PM

So, who are these self rightousness types? In your judgment?
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 6:00 PM

I can only answer that in general.

Mostly those who have a habit of feeling that they are actually helping people. It's those folks who pay attention to the fact that they're giving others help. Have you ever seen a sign on a building that say "This is a Top Secret Government Building"?

Either it's an honor and a priviledge to help or its by some sort of inner compulsion that needs to be looked at. I'm sure you can agree that giving helps of the kind we speak needs to come from a truly selfless motive that admits to how self centered the personal motive to help actually is. The widow with the two mites would have said "Yup.. that's right, Jesus... I gave my last two pennies cause I knew God would honor it."
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 6:46 PM

So, people should help addicts but not tell anyone. Keep it to themselves? Do you work with these groups?
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 8:00 PM

One of the most sound concepts of recovery is the Anonymous in Acoholics Anonymous. Though I do not prefer AA as a method of recovery the concept is sound. The fact is that addicts, to include Alcohol addicts, are no different then people who have any other form of difficulty that they have not mastered in their life.

Some folks hide their own defects in the helping of others and in so doing can become very abusive. It is necessary to make sure you can see clearly how to help another individual since an untrained lifeguard puts themselves and the drowning person in danger. Helping people with problems of the heart require that the helpers heart be pure. Otherwise the best course of action is to simply write a check for those who do. I will be happy to address any personal questions in my email.
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 8:08 PM

One more thing... Lets say meet someone who says to you, "I'd like to start a drug and alcohol program and help those suffering with addiction." Many people have tried to do so with disaterous results simply because the did no homework, did no soul searching to see why they want to take on such a task and did not even think to ask what they should not do when taking on such a task.

Life long drug addicts, including those addicted to the drug alcohol, are usually very crafty in a way that is often highly mis-understood. These days medical praticioners are finding out that addiction is a manifestation of an unchecked mental disorder. Lunatics have been misdiagnosed as addicts to the point where many are on the street living homeless because it was assumed they were addicts instead of lunatics.
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 8:18 PM

This is all my personal opinion though there are medical professionals who agree with my assesment.

Most of the medical world is grasping at straws though when approaching this issue. The social model of recovery had proven to be the best. Total abstinence is not so important in the social model as much as is practical redistribution of resources and gradual personal changes.

Too much in the way of cliche' and unwarrented expectations have been put on the process of recovery suffocating not just addicts but those who continue to support them. Some nations have decided to simply shoot addicts and dealers both. That might not seem like a good idea but it would be hypocritical to only shoot the dealers.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 8:29 PM

Why are they anonymous? Addicts and alcoholics always have an unchecked mental disorder? So it would be ok to shoot the dealer and the junkie? But you said the addict has a mental disorder. Why shoot someone who is sick?
What is a social model of recovery? Practical Redistribution of resources? Please explain.
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 10:23 PM

AA was very successful for many years because folks with the same problem got together and helped eachother solve their own problems anonymously. This works well because it is a humble and non-judgemental way of helping someone find ways to deal with things sober.

No... not all addicts have an unchecked mental disorder that pre-dates their becoming addicts.

I didn't say it would be ok to shoot dealers and users but I did mention that some nations do it. (Thialand for one.)

Social model of recovery is one recovery model where improvement is sought instead of complete abstinence. Buy less drugs (alcohol is a drug) and buy more food.

I'm no expert and most of my writes are comedic attempts to provoke thought. My opinions on this issue are as fluid as the tactics of a changing battlefield.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 3:55 PM

So AA is no longer successful?
You wrote "not to shoot both would be hypocritical", so it appear you are agreeing with this action. Does not seem very merciful.
Why not just stop drinking or using? Are you saying addicts CAN continue to use but just use less and buy more food??
"These days medical praticioners are finding out that addiction is a manifestation of an unchecked mental disorder." So, now you are saying no not all?
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 5:33 PM

1. AA is not nearly as successful as it once was as is the case with many movements of healthy change in people’s lives.

2. Judgment without mercy is reserved for those who show no mercy… so perhaps it is OK to only shoot the dealers.

3. Yes… improvement is preferred to cycles of wonderful abstinence and pathetic binges.

4. No... Not all addicts have an unchecked mental disorder that pre-dates their becoming addicts. Some become addicts through constant use of a drug. Do forgive my not putting ‘some’ in my original statement.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 6:06 PM

1. How do you know AA is not as successful as it used to be?

2. You are tap dancing. "Let he who is without sin throw the first stone."

3. Have you proof that an addict can use their drug of choice in a controlled manner? Have you heard of Moderation Management?
statueman read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 6:42 PM

DMMickie

You know that I'm a republican and consider myself a christian. You know that I like what President Bush did with his Second Chance Act. Why not just state your case plainly instead of looking for faults of which I am in no short supply.

I repeat...

I'm no expert and most of my writes are comedic attempts to provoke thought. My opinions on this issue are as fluid as the tactics of a changing battlefield.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 6:50 PM

I don't have a case to state on this subject. I just wanted to know your opinion. Curious. Thats all.

CHeers.
DMMickie read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2008 | 7:20 PM

Actually, I do have some info you should be interested in.
Moderation Management is a program for problem drinkers that want to control their drinking. The founder is a woman who is an admitted problem drinker. She didn't like AA or the other abstinent programs so in her current wisdom she started her own. It was growing and seem to work for her until one day she got drunk and drove her car. She drove down the highway on the wrong side of the road and crashed head on into another car. God takes care of fools and drunks, so she was uninjured but she killed two people in the other car. Moderation Management founder is now spending her days in prison. Amazingly Moderation Management is still active and didn't learn a thing from their founders tragedy. Real alcoholics can not drink normally This is a fact. Addicts can not use their drug in a controlled manner. That is why they are called addicts. Just some info I have learned over the years.
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statueman

I'm a retired vet who loves to come up with donut shop solutions through soup kitchen prophecies. My goal is to encourage the growth of alternative sentencing through "habilitation" programs. These quiet unsung organizations need our quiet unsung support. (Edit May 24, 2008, Of course since then I've been getting into more interesting material.) _________________________
I don't delete comments in my blogs as I don't like it when folks delete mine. (Edit June 11, 2008 - I have and will delete posts argueing about interpretation of scripture.)(Edit August 18, 2008 - I've decided too delete the comments of folks who continually use offensive name calling.) _________________________
Mc Cain by a landslide for President (See Archive January 2007 "A Muslim for President?") _________________________
Hillary to quit the primary on April 25th following an unwanted revelation. Oh well... scratch that one! _________________________
Brook White for the win on Idol Oh well... scratch number two... I wonder who'll be our next president? So far my predictions are not doing so well.

Member Since: 10/30/2006


 

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