Great series, great movie.

I love reading the comments to your articles in Big Hollywood. For the most part, it's quite a different set of readers to the ones here, and the contrast makes for interesting reading. (of course, some post here as well, so I know in advance their comments will be great!)

I have been watching a series on MSNBC about life inside of prisons. They cover a wide gamut of prisons, the regular, for teens, for women, for the most dangerous. One thing that one of them said made me take notice. Now I am not making excuses for him but he said that he had been in jail for a few years and then when he got out he did not realize that the behavior outside has to be a little different, that is if someone threatens you outside they might be just joking or whatever, yet this fellow killed someone and now has the rest of his life in jail. Seems to me as long as they are in prison some preparation for the different life outside would be helpful, again, he could be a liar also so I am not necessarily buying his tale.

It has been interesting to read Robert's account of his research and compare it to the movie. He has politely reminded me twice that because of confidentialty agreements he can't say how it exactly translates to the movie but nevertheless it is interesting to see how the screenplay "incubated".

As far as pure evil I differentate it from someone trying to shoplift - I think to transcend to pure evil one must do physical violence and not have any pang of conscience about it.

Or how about the Nazi bureaucrat (like Adolph Eichmann) who pushed papers sending 100s of thousands to their death, then goes home to his wife and children.

I can think of any number of murder cases where the defendant killed without any regret after planning it.

I am differentiating simple crime to evil - can't describe an exact line delineating the 2 but they are separate in my opinion. One has to invite Evil in.

Adam - the question you pose has been debated for generations. I can tell you (having somewhat of a "confidentiality agreement of my own) that I am involved in a trust involving some men who have been involved in relatively petty crime - small drug sales, driving without a license, drunken driving, etc) and having visited some of them in jail over the years - seeing the revolving door that most inmates go into jail - and out - and back in - I will simply say that it has been an eye-opener for those of us involved.

It is a different world from the world most of us know.

When you are told something you have to consider the truthfulness of the statement and the "angle" - I have said to those familiar with our situation that any politician should go into some jails and prisons - talk with guards and wardens - before setting social policy.

Does this mean that every prisoner is forever doomed to be a criminal? No. But it is a different world - and a world with which few on the "outside" are even aware of.

I'm looking forward to reading it. Maybe you could notify me when you post them, so I won't miss any.
Shabbat Shalom

ps l'havdil, you should meet the young innocent Israeli girls who were thrown into prison by ARik Sharon for protesting Disengagement.

Katherine:

Interesting for me too. Big Hollywood's readers are, for the most part, a new audience and I'm still finding my voice with them.

Adam:

Believe me, prisoners are acutely aware of the difference between prison and freedom. They all know that prison life is a whole other universe.

Bill:

Certainly evil exists and recognizing it is paramount for any functional society. Thus, those who forge checks do not get the same punishment as those who commit violent crimes.

Batya:

Next trip to Israel Karen and I hope to meet some of these amazing women: political prisoners.

The series has been enthralling to read. It is hard to wrap my mind around the disconnect between evil and the connection the prisoners have with the dogs they train. This is one reason why I agree with your statement about evil in the comments at Big Hollywood.

INC:

C.O. Cindy said to me: “It's the unconditional love.”

Meaning the dogs loved their trainers no matter what.

Well, of course it's not love. It's loyalty to those who feed and care for them. I don't believe in attributing human emotions to animals, but in essence, Cindy was right.

Glad you like the series. Two more chapters to go.