Why should an individual make the same mistakes as others? Is it because we are not using up our aptitude to face life and its problems? Behind all of this, we're all imperfect as a people.

There are individuals in the prisons, some of whom are innocent, and the others guilty. However, many of the guilty ones want to make a positive change in spite of all the things they have done to humanity and society, but how can we repair all those pain, grief, and losses we had caused when we're not getting the opportunity to do so? On the other hand, there are some individuals who think that we should not be forgiven. So if we have to suffer the consequences, then what about those individuals who are innocent and unfortunately get caught in the system?

We need to remember that even when Christ was crucified on the cross he was still pouring out his mercy and forgiveness to us. If we continue to dish out evil for evil and bitter for bitter then the world will never be a better place. There are good men and women behind bars no matter what their circumstances are. However, we all need your help and moral support. I had killed and injured people in the past, but I wasn't aware of what I was doing to life and myself. Now I want to take this opportunity to ask all the victims’ family that my fellow inmates and I had hurt and the rest of the Jamaican people, if they can find it in their hearts to forgive us. Because when we place our attention on the grief and losses we encounter from the lost in our past, we can never recover; we're only holding ourselves back from receiving new resources, new opportunities, and new experiences of a happy nature.

My people, we behind bars need to know how you're feeling and what you're going through because this is the only way we can all attain transformation. Let us all come together for the sake of our children and heal this nation. Please don't use our past and blight our future.

Low self esteem leads up to a lack in determination and growth. Poor vision gives negative mindsets. Neglection brings forth hopelessness. Poor family values leads to illiteracy and teenage pregnancy. Poor cultural awareness leads to a lack of: knowledge, understanding of oneself, and where we're going as a people. Mis-guided spiritual intervention brings confusion. These are some of the things that contribute to many of us being where we are today.

By: Norris Gordon