The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression. – Proverbs 19:11
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: – Ecclesiasties 3:1
Being in prison is much different than being in society. You are in there with gang bangers, killers, thieves, rapists, addicts, and bullies of every sort. They are not in there for being nice. The strong love to prey on the weak in there just for something to do. You have nowhere to run and no place to hide in there to avoid it either. Face it right now, at some point, you are going to HAVE to defend yourself in there.
Know this, God did not save you to become a doormat for people to wipe their feet on. HE knows where you are at. If you can avoid a fight, by all means do it, but if you can’t, tear the other persons head off!
It does not matter whether you win or lose, but show the other person that you will not be abused and that you will fight back when and if you have to!
When I was in there, a convict (we will call him Brian) was walking the yard daily, praying and praising God, not bothering a soul. A Muslim inmate did not like it and put a two pound weight in his t shirt and hit Brian over the head with it, splitting Brians head open! Be a victor in there not a victim! Defend yourself if you have to!
Use your discretion. There are some things just not worth fighting over like someone cutting in front of you in the chow line. But someone stealing your mail and then writing your family and asking them for money ect, you have got to kind of answer that. Someone insults your mother in there and threatens to go rape her when they get out, you have got to answer that too. Someone touches your butt in the shower, you had better slug him. Forget telling the guards or your case manager or the warden about it. That is called snitching and that will get you killed. Always handle things yourself as best you can. Ask God to help you.
Don’t go looking for it, but do not run away either. If you run away from a confrontation, you look weak to the other guys in there and open yourself up to a host of problems, like having your stuff stolen, being harrassed,being assaulted repeatedly and possibly even being raped.
During my 15 years in there, I had many fights. I won some and lost some, but I always stood my ground. I remember a time when 11 black gang bangers broke my ribs and gave me a head concussion simply because I was white. I left a few of them on the floor with me. Imagine what would have happened had I not tried to defend myself? I might have been permanently injured or been killed.
Being a Christian does not mean you have to be weak, timid or cowardly. Avoid trouble when and if you can. If not, defend yourself!
Related articles
- Mexico prison fight kills 31 inmates in Tamaulipas – BBC News (bbc.co.uk)
- 12 Inmates Hurt in Ga. Prison Fight (myfoxny.com)
- Bullies: More Than Sticks, Stones and Name-Calling (education.com)
- The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace (throughchrist.wordpress.com)
