We want them to have self-worth, So we destroy their self-worth .....

I've just being watching the UK TV series Screws. 

In the last episode of series one, this poem is read out at the funeral of a prison officer 

(murdered by a bullet from a handgun on the prison ward)

By Judge Dennis Challeen (ret) 

We want them to have self-worth 

So we destroy their self-worth 

We want them to be responsible 

So we take away all responsibility 

We want them to be positive and constructive 

So we degrade them and make them useless 

We want them to be trustworthy 

So we put them where there is no trust 

We want them to quit exploiting us 

So we put them where they exploit each other 

We want them to take control of their lives, own problems and quit being a parasite on us 

So we make them totally dependant on us 

We want them to be non-violent 

So we put them where violence is all around them 

We want them to be kind and loving people 

So we subject them to hatred and cruelty 

We want them to quit being the tough guy 

So we put them where the tough guy is respected 

We want them quit hanging around losers 

So we put all the losers in the state under one roof

Photo by @huefnerdesign? shared on unsplash