Turning Children Into Stone
By Dan Milllstein

One of my first experiences as a Teacher of Peace in a youth prison took place more than twelve years ago and at that time I was struck by the reported violent way the guards treated the children. That facility is finally under investigation for abuse of the kids, twelve years later. There are murders every day in prisons in this country. I mention this to set the stage for this next story, much of which may make you feel uncomfortable yet distant, because it is happening in another country. Believe me, there is no separation. Within this description you will see our future if we do nothing.
In our travels promoting Peace In Prison2000 we met with a Visions for Prisons Angel  who supports mothers of incarcerated youth. They (the guards) kill 2 children a week. ; They beat them in front of the others for misbehaving and they die. ; My son only ran away when the police tried to question him, he was afraid and they took him to prison and now he is dead. . These mothers were begging for our intervention and help.
We drove for two hours to the prison on the promise that someone would be available to receive us. The first person that came to greet us had tears in her eyes as we proposed that if we could speak to some of the kids (prisoners) we might calm the situation and begin a program to support a more peaceful atmosphere inside the walls. She asked that we wait for her superior to return to the prison and assured us that they needed help. An hour later we returned and another person came out to see us and asked us to leave. He said that he did not like the idea of prisoners being more peaceful and that they deserved to be punished. We were dismissed and we drove back home in silence.
A few days before we had a different experience in another youth prison which was having frequent riots and problems with violence. Here we were given some space in an outdoor auditorium with the cold wind blowing hard enough that they gave us speakers and a microphone so we could be heard. There were about 60 kids and about 20 staff there. Many of the kids were dressed in black, which identified them as murderers; the rest were in gray. These kids ranged in age from 11 to 17.
As we faced them there seemed to be a veil of fog hanging between us. Their faces were lifeless, their eyes cast downward, they were listless. Some had their heads on their knees, sleeping, and some stared past us into empty space, as they sat on the cold concrete steps.
The staff were sitting in chairs brought in for the occasion and they were equally sullen and disinterested as the kids seemed to be.
As we proposed some ideas for living in another way within the prison there was much resistance. We don t even have a single tooth brush. , The guards beat us every day. , We have nothing to do but fight. . These were a few of the heartbreaking comments. These kids were expressing their frustration and hopelessness. At the end of our presentation one of the kids asked, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF US?  I answered, We think you are all Angels! 
The veil lifted as we witnessed a miracle beyond measure. Every child s eyes widened, the kids who were sleeping raised their heads. Every face came alive and they began to yell, YES , then the applause started. They were clapping their hands, laughing, smiling, patting each other on the back, they were animated, alive, being kids. Someone had recognized them. Someone had seen the Truth in them. Beyond their crimes and their errors in thinking there was more, they were more, they were Angels. The Truth sets us free.
The staff also came alive, some were crying and some were laughing and some with their mouths hanging open at what they were witnessing. They were seeing these kids in the light of this Holy Instant and would never look at them in the same way. When it was over they thanked us and promised their openness to see differently.
The evil that men do is turning Angels into stone. Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness and Love are the only answers. Stone cold children have been in the news recently. Will you make a child feel safe today so love can land in his heart? Is there something better or more important that you have to do today?

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