You Are Your Brother's Keeper

[H2O Man]

Many years ago, when Rubin Carter was undergoing surgery while incarcerated in a New Jersey prison, one of his associates sent word to be that the Hurricane could not be reached for a couple of weeks. “The Rabbi” was one of a small group of inmates at Rahway who took an interest in Rubin’s working with me …..not only on boxing, but on staying out of the types of trouble that angry teenaged males get in to. He said that if I had anything important, to mail it to him, and he would read it to Rubin.

Within a year, after Rubin’s eye surgery had healed, he and Tommy would run for the presidency and vice presidency of the Rahway inmates’ council. And win. This was at a heady time, when “prison reform” was in style. Under Rubin’s lead, the RPC would accomplish several significant changes in how inmates were treated. This included the planning for inmates’ release, in an attempt to curb recidivism. It also included a program called “Scared Straight,” to try to keep angry teenaged males from entering the prison system.

The “rough draft” of Rubin’s autobiography, “The Sixteenth Round,” had actually been done by way of his speaking into a tape recorder, and he used to send me those tapes after they had been transcribed. In time, he would gather a few friends to discuss the harsh, cold realities of life in prison in their attempt to keep me on the straight and narrow. Thus, the Rabbi had sent word of Rubin’s surgery on a cassette tape. And then he began speaking off the cuff, about prisons and inmates in general, and about Rubin.

When a new inmate arrives, Tommy said, they naturally begin to learn the institution’s system by keeping their eyes and ears open. Because that system requires the de-humanization of the inmates -- by first reducing their identity to a number, and dressing them in drab inmate uniforms -- the new inmate is initially intent upon identifying ways to maintain their sense of self, including self-respect. But, as days turn to weeks, that inmate will find ways to “get along” within the system, to avoid the infractions of rules that result in various punishments, such as solitary confinement.

In time, the new inmate begins to modify his behavior even further. Rather than simply avoiding trouble, he begins to find ways to engage in the types of behaviors that the system encourages. The system reinforces these behaviors with rewards. As the inmate finds more and more ways to gain the rewards that make his daily life more tolerable, he begins to lose sight of those distinctions between his being a unique human being, and his being an inmate in the institution. His behaviors are no longer defined as small compromises with the institution: he has instead surrendered his human identity, and become part of its system.

Rubin, he said, was the only individual he knew of -- and Tommy had spent his entire adult life behind bars -- who had never compromised himself. His stubborn refusal to make peace with the system had often resulted in long stays in solitary confinement, among other punishments. Rubin would not compromise his identity.

After that surgery, I encouraged Rubin to risk upsetting the curious balance he had within Rahway’s system, and run for the seat on the inmates’ council. As noted, he and Tommy ran as a ticket, and won. Soon, sociologists and politicians were coming to Rahway, because they were sincere about prison reform. Even the guards and their union were supportive. Gains were being made. For example, Rubin convinced other inmates to surrender the weapons that they had stashed throughout the prison. He was working on gaining educational opportunities for inmates.

The media began paying attention to what was going on inside Rahway State Prison. This included focusing upon Rubin. He had, a few years earlier, saved the lives of the warden and two guards when there had been a prison riot. In every way, Carter seemed different from other inmates. He refused to wear the inmate uniform, or to shave. Indeed, Rubin even refused to consume the prison’s food. For he was an innocent man, serving a triple-life sentence.

I still have all of the letters and cassette tapes and documents that Rubin sent me back then. I can identify the time when that system began to shift, to regain the balance that Carter seemed to threaten. I have, for example, the letters between the warden and Rubin, in which a man who believed himself “progressive” on prison reform was telling Rubin to slow down, that change takes time. But, when Rubin continued to attempt to make improvements -- at the point he was exposing how drugs were actually smuggled into the prison -- both he and Tommy were “removed” from Rahway, and placed in solitary at the Vroom Building -- New Jersey’s psychiatric unit, for the most dangerous of all inmates.

Years later, a federal court would rule that the prison administration had acted maliciously, and award Rubin a couple thousand dollars in punitive damages. That money paid for the private investigator who located the infamous Caruso file -- which showed that, without question, Carter had not been involved in the 1966 triple murder. In fact, a couple of police investigators had known, and covered-up, the identities of the actual murderers.

But what does this, you ask, have to do with the Democratic Party’s primary contest for the presidential nomination? Good question. Although our prison industrial complex is the largest, most expensive on earth, our polite society prefers to pretend it does not exist. If anything, politicians tend to exploit the general public’s fears, and promise to be tough on crime. The public tends to convince themselves that this massive prison system does not impact society in any way, other than taking super predators off the streets.

However, we are able to draw some parallels between various systems. Let me give you an example. About a decade ago, there was a Democrat running in a heavily republican region, for a seat in the House of Representatives. Although I did not know him personally at the time, I had been impressed by his record as a county prosecutor. It was evident that he could not win, if he went exclusively for Democratic support. More, he was unlikely to get any meaningful amount of republican cross-over votes. What is a Water Man to do in such circumstances?

I met him at a county Democratic headquarters, and explained that I could likely get him enough votes from the Democratic left to fuel a victory. Most people in his shoes would have thought that I was full of already digested baloney. But he hadn’t become a successful prosecutor by being dumb. He liked what I had planned.

A week before the election, I asked him what he thought? He said that it was too close to call, but that either way, he wanted to thank me. I responded by telling him that I habitually count numbers, and was confident we would win. In fact, I predicted the outcome, and was within ten votes overall.

We had become friends, and our families would socialize together from time to time. But, pretty soon, it was time for him to run for re-election. This campaign was tougher, as the republicans had been caught off-guard the first time. One evening, at the campaign headquarters, I explained why this one was too close to call. When no one else was around, he told me that he kind of wanted to win, but that even more, he hoped that he would lose.

That surprised me. I asked why? And he told me that he had been shocked at how corrupt Washington was. He said that he was extremely uncomfortable there, because the level of open corruption was shocking. Again, this came from a solid, moderate Democrat, who had served as a District Attorney with distinction. By the end of our discussion, he had made his mind up: he did not want me to invest the effort that could have made his re-election possible.

In terms of the model of systems I prefer -- a mobile hanging over an infant’s crib -- this illustrates how an entrenched system will attempt to reject a new piece, that threatens the balance. And make no mistake -- he wasn’t a Mr. Softie -- he was a tough man, a dedicated public servant. Just the type of person we want in Washington. But his code of ethics would not allow him to go along to get along.

Now, I’ve said all of that, to say this: Bernie Sanders is an unusual phenomenon in Washington. He goes by a strict code of ethics, and he hasn’t given up …..either upon the system, or on the American public. And that is distinct from literally everyone else in the DC establishment.

By no coincidence, the vast majority of his supporters are people who are marginalized by that Washington establishment. The only times we hear from most of our elected representatives is when they want something -- our money and/or our vote. But other than at these times, we inhabit very different worlds. They do not tend to socialize with our type most of the time, for we have little if anything in common.

Yet, by way of the internet, people from across the country, who have refused to conform to the system, are finding that there is quite a few people with similar opinions. More, there are lots of groups and individuals, with slightly different beliefs, that we can break bread with. And the more we really think about it, the funnier the 1%’s attempts to convince numerous groups that they are tiny minorities.

It is extremely rare that, at the same time people are demanding something new, a candidate with Bernie Sanders’s background comes forth. It appeals to those who know the system, but who have refused to become acclimated to the environment. And it speaks to the dreams of a huge segment of society. As we have shown, beyond question, we are not some tiny minority. Democratic politicians need to recognize -- by way od committed action -- that they do not take us for granted,

And we have to recognize that this system -- the structure put in place by Ronald Reagan -- cannot be left in place. We aren’t talking about fine-tuning the Reagan economy, or any version of it. And we are not satisfied to sit back and expect that establishment bureaucrats can deliver meaningful change.

There is no evidence -- zero -- that if Sanders does lose the Democratic primary, fair and square, that the majority of his supporters are going to buy in on the campaign of an establishment candidate. They understand that the establishment, like the administration of a jail or prison, would prefer to deal with a band of merry fools, rather than a lone, wise individual.

The struggle continues …..

Peace,
H2O Man

[beam me up scottie]

1. Always thought provoking, thank you.

Way to raise the level of discourse, more ops like this are just what we need.

[H2O Man]

13. Thanks!

I am glad that you like this. Quite often, my children tell me that very few people share my interest in the things that fascinate me. (They do, but few others.) I wasn't sure if I had the ability to connect things in a way that others would see, in the same manner that I do inside my head.

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

2. May I share this?

Brilliant writing. Thank you

[H2O Man]

14. Thank you.

And yes, of course, please feel free to share anything that I post on here. I do thank you for asking. And I'm honored that you might consider this worthy of sharing.

[haikugal]

3. Beautiful! Thank you for another excellent OP.

Perspective and meaning along with strong will...we can do this! The conversation has begun!

[H2O Man]

15. Thank you, haikugal!

We CAN do this. In fact, we must.

One of the important things that studying systems -- and systems' processes, versus simply a stationary model -- is that we can see that while it can be difficult to shift, that any and all attempts to keep it exactly as is, take even more energy .....and always fail. The consequences of "not trying" are always and only more difficult.

It's funny, in a way, that the Sanders movement is, by definition, the only "pro-life" socio-political movement in America. It is pro-choice, in that it allows for each individual human being to reach their full potential. That, and only that, can achieve social justice.

I think that our opposition anticipates that we will soon tire, and give up. Not so! Heck, we are just warming up.

[femmedem]

4. A former local mayor I liked and campaigned for was told by his political consultants

that he couldn't raise enough money because he was too clean, the cleanest mayor in the state. They kept trying to set up meetings with potential donors who wanted to sell energy to the city, etc., and he wouldn't play.

He supports Bernie, btw. He endorsed him while he was still Mayor.

He inspired a lot of young local people to get involved with his first campaign, and to join our local Democratic Town Committee. They're all in for Bernie, but some are dropping off the DTC and even plan to switch their registrations back to unaffiliated after this primary.

Thanks for another great post.

[H2O Man]

16. Very good!

It is encouraging to hear about those women and men who take public service seriously. It is not easy to put yourself into the mix of an election contest, especially when one is doing it for the right reasons. I know that losing an election is no fun -- I last lost one that I entered in 1978, and have only entered a couple where I believed I had a good chance of winning, if I invested enough energy into the contest.

I've been far more active in running the campaigns of others in recent decades. Then, too, losing is not my idea of fun. Perhaps this is deeply rooted in my experience in the boxing ring? I hated to lose then, too, as rare as that was. Or being Taurus? Perhaps being 2/3rds Irish? (grin)

I do not think that the structure of the Democratic Party can possibly go back to what it was since 1992. Even the establishment of the party has to recognize that. I suppose that explains their hostility.

[femmedem]

31. I just sent your OP to the former mayor, who is also an amateur boxer.

After rereading it again today after work, I'm sure he will enjoy it. I wish I knew you in real life! But sure am glad to read your thoughts here.

Here on the local level, the more progressive branch of our DTC is arguing that we should increase our voting districts so that the lowest-income residents don't have to travel across the highway to the farthest corner of the city to vote, while the DINO branch--wealthier, whiter, older, and with an easily accessible voting location--is arguing that it would raise their taxes. It seems as if we are a microcosm of the national party.

[Chichiri]

5. The alternative is Trump. Res ipsa loquitur. nt

[H2O Man]

17. I agree.

If Bernie does not win the Democratic Party's nomination, we will likely have President Trump.

[JEB]

6. K&R Excellent post. nt

[H2O Man]

18. Thank you!

[noretreatnosurrender]

7. Fabulous Post

Thank you so much for the moving story about Rubin. Part of what you described about him was also true of Muhammad Ali. Neither man took the supposedly "easy path" that people kept telling them to do. The go along to get along mentality was just not in their nature. They maintained their integrity instead of bowing to the enormous pressure to conform. They stuck to their principles. They gave up a lot for that and it was worth it to them because they gained so much more by maintaining their integrity.

I happen to be a boxing fan but I'm not a fan of Hurricane Carter & Muhammad Ali just because of their great boxing skills. I'm a fan of them for their deep character and their unwillingness to bow down and join those who had sold themselves and their ideals to "fit in" and make their own personal lives easier.

We are not looking for short term gain in this election, we have our eyes on the long game and we will not sell ourselves short even if we win the nomination and the presidency. The road is long and full of expected and unexpected dangers but we are up to the task.

[H2O Man]

19. Very good!

It's interesting that Ali would do more for Rubin -- except the legal team, which fought ina very different venue -- than anyone else. Most people have no idea how much The Champ gave of himself .....and not just paying court filing fees, etc. That was distinct from Bob Dylan's making money off the case, including a song he didn't write.

Back in time, Ali called Sonny Liston the Big Ugly Bear, and Rubin the Little Ugly Bear. Rubin trained with Liston in Philly, including sparring him. (When Rubin first guest-hosted ESPN's FNFs, I had him tell some stories about this. Rubin would fight, and defeat, quite a few of Ali's sparring partners, including Jimmy Ellis.

Because Rubin had been exposed to traditional Islam while in the military, while stationed in Germany, he rejected Elijah Mohammad's version of the "Nation of Islam." This caused even more tension between Ali and Carter when they were both active in the ring. But, in the early 1970s, Ali would learn more about Rubin's case, and would provide support.

As you noted, Ali himself had gone toe-to-toe with Uncle Sam.I still love to watch the films of The Champ from back in that era. He had a unique talent with words.

My normal brother had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in Ali's training camp. And he bought us ringside seats at MSG for the second Ali vs Frazier bout. It was an outstanding experience.

Have you read "Soul of a Butterfly," the book by Ali and his daughter? It's powerful. She sent me some photos of Ali recently, that I've promised a couple friends here I would post. I've made a note to myself, to have my son assist me on this, as my computer skills are lacking.

[noretreatnosurrender]

37. Fan of both

Ali did have a way with words. I loved it when he was funny while being interviewed by Cosell and when he was being serious in his book. I'm jealous you got to see that fight with Frazier. I've only been to fights of people trying to break into the big leagues. I can't afford to pay the price for the big fights. It's on my bucket list though.

I too watch a lot of the old films (the ones they put on video not the reels). I'm very partial to the lower weight classifications (I like the action that you don't normally get with the heavyweights...Ali and some others the exception). I watched a lot of boxing in the 70s. Loved to watch Arguello, Pryor (met Pryor), Sugar Ray Leonard, Monzon, Hagler, Hearns, Chavez, Duran and others.

I've read many books about many fighters and I do have a copy of "Soul of a Butterfly." A lot of good quotes in that book.

"True Success is reaching our potential without compromising our values"

"Success is not achieved by winning all the time. Real success comes when we rise after we fall. I am grateful for all my victories, but I am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder"

So many, many more.

Have you been to the Ali Center in Louisville?

[H2O Man]

39. Be careful!

If I get talking about Ali, you'll be wondering when I can shut my big mouth!

One cool thing is to go to You Tube, and watch the old fight films from Jimmy Jacobs' massive collection. It was eventually sold to ESPN. Unreal material there. Both Liston Vs Williams bouts, for example. People tend to forget that Ali didn't just beat Frazier and Foreman, but he whipped Sonny Liston. And, but for Ali, Liston would be widely recognized as in the top five heavyweights ever.

I go to fights from time to time. I almost prefer sitting home and watching them, these days. Except for with my younger son -- he's a good amateur heavyweight, hardest puncher I've seen in these parts in over 50 years (okay, except when Earnie Shavers fought locally!).

There's a good boxing site on Face Book, if you are interested. Lots of former champions and others. Let me know if you are interested.

[noretreatnosurrender]

42. I could listen to tales of Ali all night

I guess we will have to set up a boxing group.

I LOVED the Ali/Liston fight. Ali was dancing that night.

Thanks for the info on the You Tube Jimmy Jacobs' collection. I will check that out this weekend. Can hardly wait.

What's the name of the boxing site on Facebook? Can you view it without being on Facebook yourself? The reason I ask is that I dropped Facebook some time ago (didn't like the tracking, etc.). Some sites on FB allow you to view but not post but others are private. Do you know?

Good luck to your son. Is he going to try for the Olympics?

[ms liberty]

8. Kick and rec. n/t

[H2O Man]

23. Thank you.

[antigop]

9. "Democratic politicians need to recognize ... that they do not take us for granted."

But that's the problem, isn't it? Do you really think anything will change as a result of Bernie's campaign?

If HRC wins the nomination, then the Dem Party will continue moving to the right.

Sadly, I don't think the Dem party will learn anything from this.

[RobertEarl]

11. Well

Being as WE are the party, we being members thereof, and if we continue to be members, then the party can change.

If we step aside then the party can't change. If we stick around and educate and enlist others then we become such a large part of the party that it reforms by osmosis.

Bernie's vision is a vision that we can use to occupy the party with a leg up from the first day. Just as Rubin helped many in his prison we are each capable of helping others, if we so choose.

[antigop]

12. but the whole thing is corrupt. It doesn't matter if we are the party or not when you are dealing

with a corrupt system.

Personally, I think the Dem party will continue to lose members as more and more realize how corrupt it is.

[H2O Man]

25. Yes, I think change is

taking place. The only question is if it will be positive or negative change.

I've talked about working elections in my home town. When I became politically active, registered republicans outnumbered registered Democrats, and Independents were a tiny minority. Today, republicans outnumber Independents, with registered Democrats being a minority.

That dynamic can, and will, spread, if the Democratic Party's establishment continues to remain entrenched in their way-out-of-touch positions.

The other potential is for a closer working relationship between the Democratic Party and the Democratic Left. The only stumbling block preventing this is, by no surprise, the Democratic Establishment. They demand that they, and they alone, call all of the shots. That is unrealistic, as all selfish, concrete thinking is.

The only thing that is certain is change. The center is no longer holding ......

[Gregorian]

30. I am curious as to how this change might happen.

We are seeing it happening right now with the presence of Sanders in the race. But there must be a number of things that can change the direction of the party.

This is an important discussion, if we're going to turn this mess around.

[2banon]

10. Yes indeed. The very rarest of opportunities is before us.

(emphasis mine)

That surprised me. I asked why? And he told me that he had been shocked at how corrupt Washington was. He said that he was extremely uncomfortable there, because the level of open corruption was shocking. Again, this came from a solid, moderate Democrat, who had served as a District Attorney with distinction. By the end of our discussion, he had made his mind up: he did not want me to invest the effort that could have made his re-election possible.

This reminds me of my own personal "awakening" of the reality of our political system. There's nothing quite like this experience.

It's shocking, demoralizing, depressing, and infuriating all at once.

It is extremely rare that, at the same time people are demanding something new, a candidate with Bernie Sanders’s background comes forth. It appeals to those who know the system, but who have refused to become acclimated to the environment. And it speaks to the dreams of a huge segment of society. As we have shown, beyond question, we are not some tiny minority. Democratic politicians need to recognize -- by way od committed action -- that they do not take us for granted,

And we have to recognize that this system -- the structure put in place by Ronald Reagan -- cannot be left in place. We aren’t talking about fine-tuning the Reagan economy, or any version of it. And we are not satisfied to sit back and expect that establishment bureaucrats can deliver meaningful change

Indeed it is extremely rare when a candidate like Bernie Sanders comes along. We have been blessed with the rarest opportunity and we must seize the moment with a tenacity a grizzly couldn't shake loose and focus like a laser on the goal at hand.. and if must needs, tune out and ignore all the naysayers who is want to demoralize in order to defeat us. As you put so well.. the structure that Reagan created must not stay in place any longer.


la lucha amour, mon ami.

[H2O Man]

32. Thank you!

I believe that the current political system is extremely corrupt. And the last person on earth who would attempt to prosecute for that level of corruption is that person making money off their amoral behavior.

It's up to us, now.

[kentuck]

20. Great post!

Thanks!

[H2O Man]

34. Thanks, Buddy!

Keep on fighting the Good Fight! And it's an honor to serve on the same team.

[mac56]

21. Brilliant.

[H2O Man]

35. Thank you.

[bullwinkle428]

22. K&R. Another great piece that illustrates why DU is just an amazing place

to visit every day.

[H2O Man]

36. Right.

I definitely agree that DU is required reading/participation, no less than once per day.

Thanks!

[Autumn]

24. Fantastic post. After a lifetime as a Democrats this has been an interesting year.

I left the democratic party, signed back up so I could caucus for Bernie and now I have left again. This time for good. I agree with your friend, even at a distance Jamie Dimon whipping voted in the Senate showed me a level of corruption that I couldn't deal with. I don't know what will happen with Bernie but I know that what the party is selling I won't buy. A slow slide over a cliff or a rapid descent, the end result is the same. We no longer have time for business as usual.

Thank you for your post.

[H2O Man]

38. Thanks, Autumm!

I seen corruption, even at the local level, that makes me puke. I apologize for talking that way, but I can't think of a more accurate manner to express it, at this moment.

As citizens, we have both rights and responsibilities. And there has never been a more important time for citizens to exercise those rights, and meet our responsibilities. Head on. Yet, we are the first generation who can save democracy in a totally non-violent manner.

History is calling us, my Friend. And at the same time, the future is calling upon us, too.

Strange days indeed!

[raouldukelives]

26. K&R Amazing read. May we all have half the strength of character Rubin held. nt

[H2O Man]

40. Thank you!

I used to read things from DU when I spoke with Rubin on the phone. I wish he was around, so I could read him your post.

[Betty Karlson]

27. I wish we could nominate this for "best OP of the month" or something.

Why are there (white-dominated and heteronormative) Oscars aplenty, and scant appreciation of such narrative masterpieces?

[H2O Man]

41. Thanks, Betty!

I think that here on this forum, I am an acquired taste. Some people agree with my points of view, though most do not.

[longship]

28. Wow! Great writing, H2O Man!

I always click through to your posts.

R&

[Gregorian]

29. Thank you for a coherent and logical explanation.

I'm always surprised by how much can be gained by simply being logical. Many are emotional about these topics. I have refused to "become acclimated". What a great way of putting it. Everyone I know has refused. What an amazing description of Rubin's lockup story and refusal to become a number. There's so much to discuss, without confining it to the race at hand.

It's funny how I just knew Sanders was the one. Without knowing what it was, I knew he hadn't bought in to the system.

You may recall I mentioned a close friend, Jim. One of his best friends started Scared Straight. I'll have to talk with Jim to get the details. If I recall, he robbed a bank, for some weird reason, and eventually was pardoned by the governor. I'll have to confirm that, but we've talked a lot about this over the years.

[Zorra]

33. We're going to leave them if they don't stop beating us.

They need to prove how much they really love us from now on, over and over, every minute of the day, or we will find our answers somewhere else. Lip service and false promises will no longer do them any good.

We are done being taken for granted, and abused, by the Democratic establishment bullies. Our vote is no longer "automatic".

Another fine post. You seem to be totally tapped into our collective consciousness, thank you!

[malthaussen]

43. Speaking of prison...

... have you seen this guy's series: https://theintercept.com/2016/02/02/barrett-brown-the-rule-of-law-enforcement/

I am rapidly becoming a fan.

Also, some of what you describe can be seen in One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, if you haven't read that.

-- Mal