PRISONER EXPRESS

I am an Oglala, Lakota Indian. My people have something that we try to live our lives by. MITAKUYE OYAS' IN. This means, "I do this for all of my relations." We speak these words as we enter and leave the Sacred Sweat Lodge. We try to live these eight small words each and every day of our existence on Mother Earth.

Now, I will explain to all of you readers of this essay exactly what these words mean when you take them into your heart and then model your walk through this life on them. They mean, that we, as Lakota, as Indians, and as members of the human race, and finally as pieces of the whole creation itself, that we pledge to always strive to show respect and compassion for all the rest of the creation. Not just other Lakota, not just other Indians no even just other human beings, but the whole of creation. Because you see, we ALL are related.

The same molecules and atoms that make us up make up even the very grass that we walk upon every day. So, even the grass is our relation. When we realize this, when we take these facts and make a place for them in our hearts, we will begin to start walking a little softer on that grass. Then, we will begin to treat each other with the same respect and compassion.

Every one makes mistakes over the course if their time here on our Mother Earth. Some mistakes are bigger than other ones, but if we all treat each other with respect and compassion even after a mistake has been made, we call all grow and evolve towards perfection.

The elders taught me when I was just a young one that perfection is an attainable goal. It might very well take us many life times to reach that perfect state of perfections, but we strive for perfection, while at the same time, we remain aware of and accept our mistakes along our path. We will ultimately one day, reach our goal of perfect human being.

My elders also taught that there really is no such thing as good or evil. Only lessons that we need to learn as we walk our path on Mother Earth. In Lakota society, children aren't expected to sit and be quiet and not ask questions. Running and playing and loud laughter are always welcomed. Children are encouraged to ask as many questions as they want. When they get mischievous, the elders smile and laugh with them even when the children are playing a joke on them. This makes the child better prepared for their adulthood.

If a child were to act in a way that is considered rude or bad form, the elders simply ignore the bad behavior and the child until he understands that he needs to correct his bad behavior. Because the children are used to the elders lavishing so much attention on them, to be ignored is the worst thing that can happen to this child's small life. When your elders ignore you, it lets you know that your actions are not desirable and you learn very quickly to change your actions so your elders would not be ashamed of you.

This habit of seeking your elders' respect by giving them respect follows a young person into adulthood. A young person has such respect and awe for their elders that if one's elders were to make a sour face, the young ones head would be hung with great shame.

Because the elders treat us with so much love, respect and compassion, to displease them is unthinkable. Think about what this world would be like is we all had this kind of respect for each other. It would be a beautiful place to live would it not?

We were taught as young ones to always respect everyone else's feelings even if we did not quite agree with what they had to say. We were taught that every feeling and opinion was valid to the one expressing it. Just because we do not feel the same way, we were taught to always approach every situation with compassion and respect for others.

We were taught to apologize even if we felt that we were the ones in the right. If we cause someone to feel hurt or bad, even if we did not intend to make them feel this way, isn't it only right that we apologize for helping to cause the hurt in the first place?

There are four precepts in being a Lakota Warrior. They are respect, compassion, humility, and self-sacrifice for the people and bravery. All in that order.

So, in conclusion, I say to you the reader, let us not worry about what makes a good corrections officer, but instead let us worry about becoming a good human being and let the rest take care of itself. My love to you all. Walk softly on Mother Earth.