我信念 2011年第3期.docVIP

我信念 2011年第3期 　　“我的信念”是一个电台节目，每期会邀请来自各行各业、不同阶层的人士朗读自己的文章，围绕这个题目讲述个人经历和人生信念。本文作者是一名犯人，他在监狱这个让人意想不到的地方悟出了一点人生哲理――在这个“学雷锋”月，你或许也会有所感触呢。文章思路清晰，条理顺畅，熟悉内容后可用作诵读材料。 　　 　　When the 1)scruffy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and 　　2)pet it. I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under 　　my hand and know that I was enriching the life of 　　another creature with something as simple as my care. I believe that caring for something or someone in need is what makes us human. 　　Over the next few days, I watched other prisoners 　　responding to the cat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around 　　talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group―not 　　chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy it along with the prisoners. 　　Bowls of milk and water appeared, along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the 　　3)dumpster to keep the seagulls from getting it. The cat was obviously a 4)stray and in pretty bad shape. One prisoner brought out his small, 5)blunt-tipped scissors, and 6)trimmed 7)burrs and 8)matted fur from his 9)coat. 　　People said, “That cat came to the right place. He’s getting treated like a king.” This was true. But as I watched, I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us. 　　There’s a lot of talk about what’s wrong with 　　prisons in America. We need more programs; we need more 10)psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some even talk about making prisons more kind, but I think what we really need is a chance to practice 　　kindness ourselves. Not receive it, but give it. 　　After more than two decades here, I know that kindness is not a value that’s encouraged. It’s often seen as weakness. Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business and never letting y