Compassion, Not Punishment

From time to time we read positive notes about constructive developments in the United Arab Emirates. This is parallel to the goal of the government headed by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to make the country the global capital for tolerance. As such, 2019 is declared as the Year of Tolerance.

In an article published by Gulf News, the headline brought joy to readers -- "22 UAE prisoners jailed over rent dispute to be freed for Eid Al Adha". Surely the happiness of those inmates and their families will be beyond measure.

"This generous activity", according to the authority, "is the first of its kind in Dubai." (Read more here.) It is dubbed as "Eid in Your Home".

Mr. Abdullah Ahmed Al Ansari is mentioned as a young Emirati businessman who unselfishly donated money,  to cover a large proportion of claims issued by the governing office. It is really very touching to know that despite what is happening around, there are good-hearted people who have the compassion to do something to alleviate their sufferings, even if they are not relatives by blood. The concerned government units cooperated well with each other to expedite the process so the prisoners can be reunited with the families soon. Their spirit of humanity mirrors the pillars of the country and its leaders.

Sometimes bad things beyond control happen even to good people. When there is no support system and only one breadwinner shouldters all expenses of principal and extended families, it is really heavy to carry. Imagine the daily expenses for survival, education of children, hospitalization if any of them gets sick, residential space rental, transportation, etc.

There are different terms of payment when it comes to the rental of residential spaces: annually, half-annually, quarterly and monthly. There are those who offer free rent for a month for an annual contract. Added to the rent would be the expenses for furniture and fixtures plus some basic appliances, utilities and telephone with internet bills. When things get out of control, that is when the nightmare begins.

The government is very aggressive now in massive information dissemination to eliminate similar problems. The authorities want to be closer with the community and there is a change in approach now based on what I read. They want to let residents and tourists know that they are friendly and understanding so problems can be handled properly while in the bud.

To lose someone's freedom is unthinkable. Sarah McBride said,

In my view, the best of humanity is in our exercise of empathy and compassion. It's when  we challenge ourselves to walk in the shoes of someone whose pain or plight might seem so different than ours that it's almost incomprehensible.

When we look around, we do not know who walks with the mind of a hopeless prisoner; they cannot move freely, encaged by unwanted circumstances. The situation is aggravated by incompassionate people. Let us not be one of them.

Listen to the stories of those who are threatened by the debt and collection agencies collectors. How they stress and squeeze the debtors in default repeatedly will make one lose his mind, if not, lose concentration and enthusiasm in the workplace. I wonder why they not let them work productively, and if they lost jobs, consider reaching out to them in terms of job-seeking assistance, as a part of CSR (Community Social Responsibility) programs to help them generate revenues so they can pay their debts. This is a better step that will yield to a win-win situation for all involved.

I hope that one day in my lifetime, 'the world will be without prisons'. Imagine that. Listen to this. Lifted from the TedTalk website --

Deanna Van Buren designs restorative justice centers that, instead of taking the punitive approach used by a system focused on mass incarceration, treat crime as a breach of relationships and justice as a process where all stakeholders come together to repair that breach. With help and ideas from incarcerated men and women, Van Buren is creating dynamic spaces that provide safe venues for dialogue and reconciliation; employment and job training, and; social services to help keep people from entering the justice system in the first place. "Imagine a world without prisons", Van Buren says. "And join me in creating all the things that we could build instead."

We will understand it better if we have gone through the same ordeal, maybe another story, but the same category.

I agree 100% with Sharon Salzberg --

Someone who has experienced trauma also has gifts to offer all of us -- in their depth, their knowledge of universal vulnerability, and their experience of the power of compassion.

Compassion is the highest human quality. In this light, I silently pray for those who helped free those prisoners and for all compassionate people in the world to reach out their hands to those in pain. Indeed, enormous obstacles can be overcome without resorting to punishment or committing suicide.

I am passionately moved. Feel my dews of empathy. Salute, angels of humanity!

To the freed prisoners, may you enjoy your brand new life with your family, and be strong advocates of hope, faith and compassion. Never forget those hands that led you to light.

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Photo credits:  Pixabay