Lunatic Phoenix Sheriff Joe Arpaio Issues New Order Forcing Inmates to Listen to Christmas Carols

[babylonsister]

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/144620/lunatic_phoenix_sheriff_joe_arpaio_issues_new_order_forcing_inmates_to_listen_to_christmas_carols/

Lunatic Phoenix Sheriff Joe Arpaio Issues New Order Forcing Inmates to Listen to Christmas Carols
Posted by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress on December 16, 2009 at 2:37 PM.


The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, run by the controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio, released a “news brief” this week announcing that it will be forcing the system’s 8,000 inmates to listen to “Christmas music” during the holiday season, even though Arpaio has faced six lawsuits over the issue in the past two years. From the statement (written in Christmas-themed red and green fonts):



Arpaio claims that “{h}oliday music from all countries and faiths” will be represented in the play list, but he repeatedly refers to “Christmas music,” which of course excludes many faiths. According to ABC News, Arpaio said that “for agnostics,” he would “mix in the singing Chipmunks” — who also presumably sing Christmas carols. “We can’t say ‘Merry Christmas’ in the U.S., in the world anymore,” said Arpaio, fully joining in the War on Christmas. “What are we coming to? I am saying it. I am singing it. It’s gonna be in this jail, and that’s the way the ball bounces.”

In previous grievances, inmates have called Arpaio’s stunt “cruel and unusual punishment” and said that it is forcing them to “participate in religious celebrations.” As the Phoenix New Times points out, “The practice of forcing people to listen to crappy music all day long has been used in the past for interrogation purposes. For example, the U.S. military blared Metallica music at detainees in Guantanamo Bay with the intention of breaking them down psychologically.”

Arpaio is not a benevolent sheriff trying to cheer up inmates during the holiday season. His unconventional tactics are often unusually cruel and sometimes outright racist. His deputies are on the lookout for people “who look like they just came from Mexico” (based on how they look and talk), and he has said that “illegals” are “all dirty” and should be “checked” like “fruits and vegetables.”

Recently Arpaio’s tactics gained attention again when a woman spoke out and said she was detained in Arpaio’s jail while nine months pregnant. She eventually had to give birth while shackled to a bed and then “was not allowed to hold her baby and was told that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, the baby would be turned over to state custody.”

[Bobbieo]

1. Doesn't this mean employees also must listen to the music or are they gven ear plugs?

[Jamastiene]

2. I agree with the inmates on this one.

It IS cruel and unusual punishment. Christmas carols, for the most part, are dreadful to listen to under any circumstances. Enforcing religious observances should be considered unconstitutional.

And as much as I love regular music, even I don't listen to music 24 hours a day. :wow:

[old mark]

3. The Sheriff's whole point is that being in jail should be punishment.

He has eliminated coffee or tea from meals, convicts work on a farm and pick the vegetables and fruit consumed in the jail. They have no TV.
They have the lowest recidivism rate in the state, IIRC.
Merry christmas.

mark

[lonestarnot]

4. OMG you voted for that offensive pile who arrests people for driving while brown and then

kills the people who need medical care while in jail by ignoring their needs, stands people in the heat until they die. What kind of fucking justice do you believe in there buster?

[old mark]

5. I never voted for the guy, don't live anywhere the state. I used to work

in a prison while I was earning my degree in Social Work. I was not aware of the racist aspects of the sheriff's programs, but I think he has some very good ideas about running his jail.

Most people in jail are actually criminals, should be discouraged from coming back.

mark

[lonestarnot]

6. For private prison industry much?

[old mark]

9. No, I worked in a public county jail, as does the sheriff, lonestarsnot. nt

[lonestarnot]

10. Most Sun City folks support Joe Bigot and they are mostly old like us.

I still have my mental faculties and do not support racists.

[old mark]

11. I saw a TV program about the sheriff a few years ago - nothing about

racism was mentioned, but based on some of my experiences with prisoners in our county jail here in PA, I am interested in what he is doing.


mark

[era veteran]

7. The inmates should make up their own lyrics

and sing loudly in chorus.

[lonestarnot]

8. Joe blows to jingle bells.