These videos (and more!) were posted on You Tube by Byron Garcia, a security consultant for prisons in the Philippines. This is what he says about the prisoners dancing:
“This is a tribute to all Prison facilities in the Philippines (8 and counting) who are now adopting this non-violent approach to rehabilitation! Thank you, inmates deserve a second chance! If we make prisons a living hell for them, then we might just be sending out devils once they are released. Cruel methods to achieve discipline are a thing of the past! So, keep on dancing!”
A great article about them was written last year in the NY Times.
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COMMENTS
5 responses to “Prisoners Dancing for A Second Chance”
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If, as seems to be the consensus here, the death and resurrection of Jesus can do nothing to make the believer better, then I have my doubts that dancing can do much to improve these guys, although they sure look cool doing it.
It makes me want to go to the Philippines and commit some little crime that will get me a year or so of free room, board and dancing lessons!
absolutely breath-taking. thank you, sarah.
The death and resurrection of Jesus makes one forgiven, loved, and healed; redemption and reconciliation answering the tragedy of life, while we are yet sinners. This is good news, to which making me better is small potatoes.
Dancing is good medicine for the whole person, a lovely gift from those in power to those in captivity, it says a lot about the authorities acting in good will, for dancing is not allowed at the inner city school where my daughter teaches, for fear of what might happen if the kids all get to dancing!
Robin, "redemption and reconciliation answering the tragedy of life, while we are yet sinners" I love it!
I posted these videos because they seemed to me a glimpse of grace in practice; prisoners getting a chance to dance, even though they don't deserve to do anything fun, and having it change them.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for dancing, and I think our prison system could use a lot more of what we see here. But as for making anyone "better", Jesus can't or won't or at least doesn't do it, and dancing isn't going to do it either. But, as Robin so beautifully said, that is not the point.