Cold Feet in the Winter
Night冬夜裡的腳丫
2013.01.15 Fountain Pen
Drawing
Inmates have no choice but
to bend and contort their bodies to fit in the narrow prison beds. During
cold nights such as these I often see feet hanging off the edge of bed
frames, only for them to be withdrawn back under the covers. Best not mention
the plight of those taller-than-usual individuals.
I remember, at the opening
of the exhibition “Suffocation”, my good friend Hei Jincheng discussed what
it was like sleeping after ten years in prison. Even if he falls asleep and
wakes up naturally - at around 7 am every day - trying to get back to sleep,
tossing and turning, is a futile pursuit.
Another friend told me that
despite being out of prison for almost ten years, the six years he spent
inside have meant that, even if he is sharing a bed with his wife, he still
curls up his body as if he were sleeping in a prison bunk. The days of
holding his wife and sleeping peacefully are a distant memory.
The correction system
was designed to bring about change in people’s lives. However, what is its real
impact on inmates? No-one is sure what to believe. Does the punishment fit the
crime? What is the bottom line of justice? Can corrective justice really fulfil
its purpose? Can punitive justice be excessive? Does solitary confinement
really make society a safer place? I believe everyone has their own opinions.
But the real answer, maybe God only knows…
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記得上回〔悶〕展開幕時黑金城大哥提到十來年的監獄生涯讓他即使想睡到自然醒，也總在七點左右就醒來，想要睡個回籠覺再怎麼輾轉也是枉然；一位朋友聽了感慨地告訴我，雖然他已出獄近十年，但六年牢籠歲月讓他即使現在與妻同床共枕，也只能蜷屈著身子想像自己仍睡在當年牢裡的小床才能安然睡去，擁妻入眠的美好日子早己成了遙遠的記憶⋯⋯
犯罪矯正當初的設計就是要促成人的改變，但對人真正的影響到底是什麼相信誰也沒把握，罪與罰均等嗎？正義的底限在哪裡？矯正刑是否真能矯正？懲罰刑會不會過當？隔離刑是否真能讓社會更安全？相信大家都有自己的見解，但真正的答案或許只有天知道⋯⋯
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