seeking humanity inside alcatraz prison.

On a visit to the famed prison, the definition of the word 'choice' crossed my mind. Children, people, and society are all told that they have choices. Freedom of choice, and responsibility for those choices. However, sometimes I truly believe that even some of the most notorious criminals in history, if they had just been fortunate to have better options available, they could have chosen a better path. Why do I believe this? I believe this because I grew up sheltered in the suburbs. I had choices. Nothing has brought me more awareness than the inequality in the availability of choices to children in modern society than music. It's the art of no barriers. Sharing the happiness of music in studios with armed artists to mass counterfeiters has taught me how much of a moral illusion we as people are raised in. I always ask everyone I meet in music their story. If there is one thing I have learned through the stories of those I've made music with whom society has written off as simply criminals or no good, is that the stories they shared with me all had one thing in common - the lack of choices as children.

Walking through Alcatraz, I could not help but wonder on the need for such a place, and how maybe we would have a better world if the kind of money spent to make such a place, was invested in children and public well being instead.