Do Prisoners Deserve Christmas Gifts and Cookies?

[MIGrandma]

A local church asked students in high school to make Christmas cookies for people in jail. The church members are taking the cookies, and socks and Bibles to the inmates.

I think if a person does something to land themselves in jail they have given up their right to Christmas gifts and cookies. They just don't deserve them. I would rather see the cookies and gifts be taken to a nursing home, or given out to the homeless in shelters, etc. rather than to prisoners.

What do you think?

 

[sam_gordon]

Do they deserve them? Probably not. But that doesn't mean they don't need, want, or appreciate them. Churches do things kind of things to "get the word out". I don't see a problem with it, ASSUMING the church asked THEIR HS kids to make the cookies. If a church simply went to a nearby HS and asked the home ec class or something to make cookies for this outreach, I'd have a problem.

 

[DMRick]

I think if I was to answer completely, this would become a religious thread which isn't allowed. I would be asking myself WWJD...did He think the lost sheep was worth finding?

 

[katrina1122]

I think something small is fine. Sometimes people just do something dumb. I know someone who deservedly went to jail for doing something stupid and knew it. Got out and has never done anything again.

Though jailed, they are people too. Something kind may help them to be a better person.

Elaborate gifts? No.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

A local church asked students in high school to make Christmas cookies for people in jail. The church members are taking the cookies, and socks and Bibles to the inmates.

I think if a person does something to land themselves in jail they have given up their right to Christmas gifts and cookies. They just don't deserve them. I would rather see the cookies and gifts be taken to a nursing home, or given out to the homeless in shelters, etc. rather than to prisoners.

What do you think?

If it were easy to do it on a person to person basis it would be okay.

Some people just plain messed up(obviously not talking about people who maliciously commited a crime) and some don't really deserve to there at all.

I think asking a large group of people isn't the right way to do it though.

 

[Kae]

I think if I was to answer completely, this would become a religious thread which isn't allowed. I would be asking myself WWJD...did He think the lost sheep was worth finding?

I agree.

kae

 

[Crystal0608]

I don't see why they wouldn't. I don't think cookies and socks are over the top, I think it's a nice gesture.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think if I was to answer completely, this would become a religious thread which isn't allowed. I would be asking myself WWJD...did He think the lost sheep was worth finding?

This.

 

[Eeyore98]

I can't really get worked up over it when white-collar corporate criminals who screw over millions get a slap on the wrist, but others who weren't hurting anyone but themselves (minor drug possession) end up in prison for years. Let 'em have some cookies.

 

[sbell111]

I'm not seeing a problem with this outreach effort. I can't for the life of me think of a negative outcome, while I can imagine a few positive ones.

 

[Uncle Remus]

I'm not seeing a problem with this outreach effort. I can't for the life of me think of a negative outcome, while I can imagine a few positive ones.

 

[101DalmFan]

I'm not seeing a problem with this outreach effort. I can't for the life of me think of a negative outcome, while I can imagine a few positive ones.

 

[frequency]

I'm pretty sure a couple of rather famous early Christians spent some time in the slammer. And the Man himself was arrested.

 

[msjprincess]

i'm not seeing a problem with this outreach effort. I can't for the life of me think of a negative outcome, while i can imagine a few positive ones.

ita

 

[Heidict]

I think if I was to answer completely, this would become a religious thread which isn't allowed. I would be asking myself WWJD...did He think the lost sheep was worth finding?

I agree.

OP you seem to think that anyone in prison is a monster. While there might be a lot of evil and sick people in prison there are also people who are waiting trial, those who are innocent and those that are in for minor offenses. Don't lump them all together.

I'm sure a couple of cookies and some socks aren't going to spoil them. They are still going back to their cold cell at night, being locked up.

 

[Pigeon]

Given that this is a church-sponsored activity of what is a presumably Christian church, I think Matthew 25:36 is probably what the leaders had in mind.

I'm not religious and I think everyone deserves some kindness in their lives. Sending prisoners a few treats does not negate the fact that they are still in prison.

 

[beck0321]

Louisiana's Angola State Prison puts on a Rodeo every year. It's a rodeo and a craft/fair type thing; the prisoners get to sell items they have made, like furniture, jewelry, purses/clothes, art/paintings, etc...there are even prisoner bands that play! This year was the first time I went. You actually interact with the prisoners who are there selling their stuff or serving concessions. Most of the were REALLY nice...would never think they were PRISONERS. So yes, I would have given every one of them I met a cookie for Christmas!

 

[Allison]

I think Christmas isn't about judging who is worthy of receiving an act of kindness.

 

[LSmith]

I'm pretty sure a couple of rather famous early Christians spent some time in the slammer. And the Man himself was arrested.

Not to mention executed for his "crimes".

My husband, who is a police officer, believes that only about 1% of people in prison are truly evil. The rest have just done bad things. There are so many different circumstances that lead people to jail.

Kindness can go along way in rehabilitation.

Of course there are some people who are just mean spirited.

 

[RitaE]

I am trying my absolute hardest to say this in a non-snarky manner but really:

Christmas = celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

The man (God), who for Christians, forgives all sins and acts with love?

KWIM?

But by all means, if you feel the prisoners aren't deserving of forgiveness and love on the holiday that celebrates the Savior, then get out your baking sheet and bake some cookies for the Nursing Home in the name of Jesus. I'm sure he'll appreciate your efforts.