Conrad Y1P (or Year 1 in Prison)

Peter WORTHINGTON reports on Conrad BLACK's 1st Anniversary at Coleman Minimum Security Prison in Florida. Most disturbing - and which WORTHINGTON makes evident - is the the dehumanizing aspect for all involved, inmates, guards and especially visitors. The treatment WORTHINGTON receives is sure to make anyone think twice about making such a trip. But the indignity's are shared as after the visit Conrad BLACK receives a body cavity search before being allowed back into his quarters.

Among the intriguing observations by WORTHINGTON it that the U.S prison population has exploded on the past 30 years - 300,000 in 1972 to over 2million in 2007. As a poster to the article noted, WORTHINGTON's new found sympathy is surprising. Given that he sowed his journalistic reputation in the early days of the Toronto Sun and was known for years as a "hard-ass" against crime this seems a tad remorseful. Has he grown a conscience in the past 5 years watching one of his best buddies humiliated by the U.S Justice system.

What is going on here?

I suspect that WORTHINGTON - who started as a hard-nosed crime reporter - is starting to realize that some of those stories he brought to front page in exchange for better access to Crown prosecutors and Toronto Police Services are beginning to haunt him. Disgraced Ontario pathologist Charles SMITH, the Karla HOMOLKA fiasco, as well as a growing number of high profile, overturned homicide convictions. A very sage MRA told me not long ago that Men's Chivalry has done as much damage to Men's Rights as Feminism. Shake your world, Pete.