I was having a conversation, with a random stranger not so long ago.
Nice fella, that had just been released from 14 years of imprissonment, for defending himself against cops, whom kicked his door in, in a drug raid. - He had a very easygoing and kind personality, and seemed like the type of person, you could always count on, when in need of help.
Well, he had a pretty good life, according to himself. A loving wife, and a son, whom he cherised more than anything. Which was why he sold cannabis in the first place. So he could be able to provide more for them, than he could with a regular taxpaying job.
Soon after his kidnapping though, the wife left him. She couldn't wait the 14 years, for his release, and it was the start of his entire life crumbling down upon him.
- Both of his parents died 2 years into the sentence, and he wasn't allowed to go to the funeral, which made him feel so guilty that he still haven't visited their graves at all, to say goodbye..
- The year before he was released. His son, whom he haven't seen, since his own kidnapping, was kidnapped for almost the exact same crime.
- He can't get a job, since no one really wants to hire a convict, with assault on a police officer as the crime. So his stuck on social security. Which bothered him quite a lot, since he "just wants to give back to society". By being a law abiding citizen.
^ Did I mention, that he sees himself as the badguy, even after all of that?
Well he does.
- We talked a bit back and forth, about his life, which was a rather depressing story. His life was pretty much over, but he hadn't given up just yet. He wanted to improve himself, to become a better human being. Which I wholeheartedly applauded, since self-knowledge and -progress, are two things I value a lot.
While we where chatting, I naturally gave my oppinion on the subjects we talked about, and while my words didn´t have much effect in the now, I could see, that he was relieved to find out, that not all people look down upon him, for his "crime". Since that seemed to be his experience so far, and with him blaming himself it's not much of a mystery as to why. - But he's not the reason, why his life was messed up. All he was doing, was trying to give his family what he thought they deserved, and was punished for doing so, by Denmarks largest gang. Namely, the police.
During our conversation, he contnuesly used the phrase "they where just doing their jobs", but it mostly seemed like he was trying to excuse them to himself, as to not feel completely powerless. Rather than trying to convince me, that it wasn't their fault.
- And while most people tend to get angry at me, for pointing out that ruining other peoples lives, can't be excused with that. He just smiled, as if he sot of knew, but couldn't get himself to believe it.
I shared a shorter version of this, on facebook. And one of my anarchist facebook friends, instantly saw him as an unreliable person, where I was in danger of being assaulted.
- Apparently, empathy is not the easiest subject, to most anarchists. All statists are inherently evil, until they renounce the state. (Which is probably why so many of them, are calling for government edicts, as to halt "the muslim invasion".)
Anyway. I´m crossing my fingers, that he'll be able to pull through the horrible things he's experiencing. No one should have their life ruined, just because other people don't like what the person is doing. It's nothing but evil.