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Ben
Lecturing
About Me
- prisonerben
- United Kingdom
- Previously known as "one of Britain's best known prisoners...he constantly questions authority and exposes the futility of the system" The Times, Ben was finally released from prison after 32 years in August 2012. Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when he was 14 years old, he renounced violence and fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. As a result of speaking truth to power, he served far longer than the recommended 10 years, leading Education Secretary Michael Gove to argue that he had "been punished excessively for a crime committed as a child". One of the more intellectual of prisoner-campaigners, Ben chose to educate himself from schoolboy level to having both undergraduate and post graduate degrees. He is currently one of very few prisoners in Britain ever to attempt a Doctorate. Ben's speciality is non-violent action and the Human Needs Theory. Now on Life Licence, He is forging a career as a CJ policy consultant, writer and - as ever - campaigner.
Welcome back to the rat-race, brother. I should take a long deep breath before doing much. I read your article in the Guardian with pleasure, but I thought the comments were very sour and untypical of most people who I am sure wish you well at your homecoming.
ReplyDeleteGod the Guardian readers were surprisingly hostile.
ReplyDeleteUrgh. Disappointed not surprised by the comments. The level of understanding of the reality of prison within the public at large is woeful.
ReplyDeleteA solid and well worded piece Ben. Now you know why some of us use the term 'Guardian reader' as a pejorative.
ReplyDeleteThey are mostly a bunch of Robespierres, committing their minds to tyranny under the tarnished banner of liberty.
The Assange saga has exposed these hypocrites, forcing them to attack their own rather than surrender their over rated stance on fairness.
I too was surprised at the viciousness of the comments. Unlike us they haven't got to know you over the years Ben. I am wishing you the best of luck and a happy retirement from prison. Am looking forward to continue to read this blog.
ReplyDeleteGuardian article was good but some of the comments inhumane and ignorant Wrote under another name on the article so will wait for some rude comments to me too.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Ben and editor and look forward to hearing about your adjustments to life.
They are a bunch of whatnots on CiF, I can't bring myself to read it. If one of my friends has an article in the Guardian, nowadays I just read the article and not the comments, they are always the same vicious comments from small minded people. Sorry, but I havn't got around to reading your article yet Ben, I am sure it'll be a good read, but rise above the CiF brigade you won't win them over, its been like that for years, sadly. They got in to the Guardian CiF way back in the early days of the internet and have sadly remained, like I say I hardly ever read the 'debates' or diatribes, let alone participate. Its a baptism of fire for you, Ben.
ReplyDeleteI think CiF gets ambushed by people who don't like Guardianistas, doesn't it? Daily Fail readers rush over there to um... provide balance/slag it off. But regardless, and as I'm sure you realise, Ben, these are the people you'll need to engage with if you hope to continue campaigning for penal reform. Patience, calm and repetition is the only way to change minds. And it will be a slow process. You can do it, I'm sure.
ReplyDelete