The Freeman 1972 - The Ludwig von Mises Institute

1972 I VISIT A MANAGED SOCIETY 679ciety. Surely I could -answer thatsimple question after such a visit.But my thoughts refused to focus.I wanted only to experience theliberty I now enjoyed. My eyesturned again to the free-flyingbirds. My ears caught the sighingin the trees. I breathed deeply ofthe fresh salt air.' I picked up astone and ,splashed it into thewaves. These were the symbolsthat translated all my philosophiesinto experiential realities. This Iknew. as freedom. I needed nowords. They would come later as Iwould challenge Lamar to interprethis freedom concepts as aprisoner in San Quentin penitentiary.Permission was granted to meto visit this man in the famous120-year-old institution throughthe courtesy of a new nonprofitgroup known as Job Therapy ofCalifornia. Part of its service isthe man-to-man (M-2) visitationprogram in which citizens volunteerto make one visit a month toa prisoner. I had signed up as asponsor and was matched withLamar Knighton, who also hadvolunteered for the program. Myonly other commitment is that Iwill· meet Lamar at the gate ofSan Quentin on the day of his release,and spend the day with himas he begins a new life on the outside.I am not to give or lend himany money, nor take him to stayin my home. I serve only as afriend, to encourage him to earnhis own· way and build the kind oflife that will be most helpful tohimself.Doing an Article ...After several visits in which weexchanged ideas we had discoveredfrom .books .and periodicals, ourfriendship began to grow. Betweenvisits we would write essays onvarious aspects of freedom. I res,olvedon my next· visit to getLamar's view of the managed societyin which he lived. On thisparticular day I took the freewaythat runs along the beautifulcoastal range that extends fromSan Francisco down the Peninsula.Patches of fog were clingingto the top of the redwood hills anda brisk wind tossed whitecapsacross the Bay and under theGolden Gate Bridge.The same guard in the gatehouseasked the same familiarquestion: "Who do you want tovisit?""Lamar Knighton," I replied."Please show your identification."I produced my driver's license."Sign in, please." I signed myname in the visitor's register andthe time (9 :40 A.M.) in the appropriatespot."What do you have in the bvief·case?" he asked.