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導讀：“我的信念”是一個電臺節目，每期會邀請來自各行各業、不同階層的人士朗讀自己的文章，圍繞這個題目講述個人經歷和人生信念。本文作者是一名犯人，他在監獄這個讓人意想不到的地方悟出了一點人生哲理——看完后，你或許也會有所感觸呢。文章思路清晰，條理順暢，熟悉內容后可用作誦讀材料。
When the scruffy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and 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.
當那只臟兮兮的橘黃色貓兒出現在監獄的院子里時，我是第一批走上前去撫摸它的人之一。我已經有二十多年未曾摸過一只貓或狗了。感覺到它在我的手掌下，知道自己只不過用一絲簡單的關懷就讓另一個生命的日子變得充實起來，這真是一種令人驚嘆的恩典。我相信，對有需要的人或物表示關懷，是我們作為人所應有的特質。
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.
在接下來的幾天里，我看到其他犯人紛紛對這只貓表示關注。每次放風的時候，總有一群犯人圍在那里。他們站在那里聊天，輪流撫摸著貓兒。平時，你不會看到這些家伙彼此交談。還有幾次，我看見一位獄警也站在人群里——不是為了把人們趕開，而是就在那里看著，似乎和犯人一起享受這難得的時光。
Bowls of milk and water appeared, along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dumpster to keep the seagulls from getting it. The cat was obviously a stray and in pretty bad shape. One prisoner brought out his small, blunt-tipped scissors, and trimmed burrs and matted fur from his coat.
有人放下幾碗牛奶和清水，還有面包；它們都被巧妙地放在大垃圾箱邊緣的下方，以防海鷗搶食。這顯然是一只流浪貓，健康狀況相當糟糕。一名犯人拿出他的鈍頭小剪刀，給它修剪身上的芒刺和糾纏的毛團。
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.
大家都說：“這只貓算是來對地方了。我們把它當國王一般款待。”確實如此。不過當我看著（人與貓的互動），我也在思考這只貓為我們帶來了什么。
There's a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs; we need more 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.
許多人在討論美國監獄到底出了什么問題。我們需要更多（改造）項目；我們需要更多心理學家或各種治療法。有些人甚至說要讓監獄更加人性化，但我認為，我們真正需要的是一個讓我們表現善意的機會。不是接受，而是給予。
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 yourself be vulnerable.
在這里呆了二十多年后，我知道監獄并不鼓勵善意善行——它通常會被視為軟弱。相反，這里提倡的監獄文化是低調做人，別管閑事，而且絕對不能讓人覺得你是好欺負的。
For a few days, a raggedy cat disrupted this code of prison culture. They've taken him away now—hopefully to a decent home—but it did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. He didn't have a Ph.D., he wasn't a criminologist or a psychologist, but by simply saying, “I need some help here,” he did something important for us. He needed us, and we need to be needed. I believe we all do.
在那幾天，一只邋遢的小貓打亂了這種監獄文化的法則。現在他們把它抱走了——很可能送到某個靠譜的家庭——但是看到它對我以及這里的人所產生的影響，我的心靈得到了救贖。它并沒有博士學位，也不是犯罪學家或心理醫生。它只不過簡單地說了一句“我需要幫助”，就為我們帶來了非常重要的影響。它需要我們，而我們也渴望被人需要。我相信人皆如此。
