You're right that it isn't fair. We live in a world where most people, including myself a lot of the time, have to make things "black and white" and can't handle anything being "gray". We need to encourage each other to think critically.
From the way you write I suspect you will make the very best of your circumstances when you're released, and I wish you luck.
I am not a marine like all of you but by God's providence I now have a connection to Sgt. William David Linley. I visited and prayed with him at Graham Prison on 12/12/12. I work in a ministry that offers men a better chance of success upon their parole from prison if they don't have other family or a place to parole to. I will be visiting with and writing to David and following his court and appeal process for a reduced sentence. He is trusting God in all things and doing well. I just wanted you all to know that in case you had not heard from him in awhile. Let me know if you have any questions or want to send along any words of encouragement to him. My own son is an E6 still serving his country like all of you have and I want to honor you and David in any way that God leads.
The concept of "groupies" who gravitate towards relationships with DR dwellers (albeit one-sided as we all know MOST death row inmates are totally narcissistic) is nothing new. A "student" in psychology and criminology should be familiar with the concept. I believe in the U.S. we'd call that 101 or beginner studies. Your cliche (entertaining social example of groupthink) sounds, well, very close minded and not well though out before you committed it to paper. Do you communicate verbally that way as well?
I'm sure by now you've had a chance to research RC, no? By now you surely have slaved through his voluminous posts about his abuse, his heightened security, his dismal childhood, his no recreation, his fraudulant DR's and the fact that he's running out of paints and may not be able to produce many more cards (since he can't make money on them). Of course, you know the situation about why his mother is RESTRICTED from visitation, right? His knee hurts, he's depressed AND he's downright angry that his co-defendent is already out of prison. Did you read about his life prior to incarceration - selling drugs (even to children)? Read any of his trial transcripts to appeals? If not, why not? If so, is your opinion the same? He had nearly a novel's worth of rants about Warden Reddish and continues them in nearly every communication even though that admin, for the most part, has been relocated. Does this sound like someone who has or is willing to atone for the wrongs he has committed in society? Hell no. Not in my book.
Sorry, don't watch (and never did)the Muppet Show. I do, however, read at least 4-5 newspapers daily and keep abreast of local, state, national and international news.
Happy that you're amused and this topic conjures up that mental picture. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. In your case I believe that to be true.
There will NEVER come a time when discussing death row inmates that my mind would paint a cartoon image for my amusement. There is nothing amusing about any of the crimes that resulted in incarceration on death row.
As far as you stooping to our level, that's just absurd. You would need a step ladder. Bending would not be necessary. Just 'sayin.
In closing, I find your use of the term "amusing" highly inflamatory and reckless.
Sorry if my responses seem a bit "off" today but I have some tests run in January in LOU and well, you know the rest about how I should have went sooner but whats done is done, I was working my butt off and too busy to notice any problems which you also know about. I dont think of this often but cannot just pretend its not possible (again) and I just needed to type it/write it somehow even if Im half asleep (hopefully- its now 4 44 am) and it makes no sense, its just on my mind tonight ALOT due to some things, yet I probably wont think of it again for over 2 weeks cos I dont let myself. Gonna try to just sleep the next 3 hours here. Much Luv, CC
I really really liked this post, Marcus. I think besides what you already listed about reasons why people communicate a certain way, perhaps trying to get a point across to them is impossible because they are only out to hear what they want to hear from you. It all depends on the circumstances and doesnt always become a debate or a set goal of making a point....sometimes it may be just plain pushing to get/hear what they want or to just get you to give in and agree......Please go back and evaluate this post that you wrote, and take yourself back to when you dealt with this even though its on a totally different level than what Im talking about that goes on when people want to be part of my little world. Yet finding this post may be able to help you understand my issue a little more, I hope. Sorry for the replies here but Im trying to go to bed unsuccessfully and its 4:36 am no luck so here I sit, hoping you will go by what you have already learned of me and understand what its like for me to try to communicate the best I can without sounding like a pitiful POS or coming across as mean, when I seriously cannot change something about myself and if i tried- that my life on the line period. You already know what Im talking about that Ive faced, Im not gonna type it for all. Just PLEASE put yourself in MY position, and re-read this post that you wrote when you found it hard to communicate with those who only cared about their say. Much Luv, CC
The big picture is always missed, so I would say if I could name one Never Again it would be to never again feel blamed for being less than or pushed as if this is a personal choice Ive made out of some stand I have taken LOL I wish it was that simple this almost killed me before 28 yrs old (even though I am more than in every other aspect besides one that is truly mostly overlooked and yet the one LESS than Im stuck with for surviving (what a world to survive for here) is pounded into my head as if I can change it, which isnt right) due to this sex filled world (evidently its like currency and people cant live without it in some form I dont know but I dont humiliate them) I dont know when Ill be back to normal, but I am not a liar and dont just say whatever to people without meaning it, so Ill be whatever I was before this BS attacked me years ago whenever it happens. Until then, I can only wish for Never Agains because I will not fight to survive only to be demeaned because of how the world today portrays females SLIGHTLY and majority men fall for that and say HEY ILL JUST BE LIKE THIS IT WILL WORK. Just venting. I write too much anyway, shoulda done this in a letter but its weighing on me heavily due to some upcoming stuff in late January (wonder how many people will expect me to just act like its nothing- karma get em for me!) so I was afraid I would write TOO much. Thanks for hearing me out. 12/15 4 am
I have a few Never Agains but even if there were 100 of them, 99 of them would be against my wishes or beyond my control. You can learn something from your situation, as I read. I hope you never have to face Never Agains that you had no place in causing for yourself because that is the one thing I cannot seem to get anyone to truly understand unless they have been there themselves. If I named my several Never Agains, they wouldnt be like yours sadly because you can make yours truly never happen again. I dont have that option and it isnt the best feeling at times either. So even if I did write you with my Never Agains, I know its a world alot like yours may seem to be where you automatically assume 96 percent of the time people arent going to truly get it (nor do I expect them to, although some respect over surviving would be nice plus some questions about WHY I am this way or that cos trust me, it wasnt my choice and sometimes I can feel hurt/disrespected when anyone that knows me disregards my past circumstances and what they have done to me by just thinking I came thru unaffected) and you assume that because unless they have been there, how can they truly understand a world they know nothing of? Id normally say this in a letter but saw this older blog and felt the need to reply since my own Never Agains (although they are only wishful thinking really) weigh on my mind constantly for the past 3 yrs and even before then were things to constantly monitor, etc. I just wish that people who havent suffered any illness and barely came out of it without tons of changes and surgeries and medicines, etc, would consider how much that takes away from an average human being.....not just wait until they experience it and want my pity cos I have "been there myself" before. You know how it is, its just on my mind. People can simply say things that make me feel less of a human over life saving surgeries etc that I HAD to HAVE or else. And I am still young. So it makes it even harder to truly believe that men women whoever are totally clueless about what fighting a possible terminal illness when already at high risk for HORMONE FED CANCER as is (key word: hormones yet nobody gets that Im not gonna bounce back and just be the same after such going on before I was even 27 yrs old), etc does to a person after they are already lucky to be alive yet feel downed each time someone mentions their situation and downplays it and mentions hormones and sex and pushed it so much you almost wish you had NOT taken care of it at all and let it eat you alive, if you arent even thirty and just coming back to life yet this is what youre gonna hear or be expected to be for the rest of your life that you had to fight for?
(smile) From all that I have heard about how you couldnt have a better cellie which is definitely true (plus anyone that can be straight with you about what being out is like recently, what to expect, his advice to you which will be priceless at this time, him being someone that will discuss/talk honestly about many aspects of being in vs being out, and about different things in life so that you CAN learn something from them -that alone is rare anyway among people and hard to find as is, regardless of environment) I think Will is an amazing person in so many different ways. I hope you learn alot from him and take his advice as Im sure he knows what to tell you to expect, your best move once you are free, what to waste time on and what not, etc. Im glad knowing that IN THERE you have someone cool and not rude that you can discuss future ideas with and even have your "debates" that you mentioned HAHA. Please listen to anything will can tell you about how much things have changed in 10-12 years out here. Truly do so. He knows. So tell will I said HELLO (smile) and that I send my thanks for tolerating the Burger King Mega Dumb Art (LOL) Even though he has to be confused by purposely messed up page full of bright colored McDonalds logos and random fairies and THE ACTUAL Burger King with his dress and ashtray incident portrayed (hahaha)among other misc add ins on bee mode artwork that you end up hanging up so he cant miss them. LOL a 2nd one is on its way now, be ready, less color/art but more "words" HA HA!
RSS
From the way you write I suspect you will make the very best of your circumstances when you're released, and I wish you luck.
I work in a ministry that offers men a better chance of success upon their parole from prison if they don't have other family or a place to parole to. I will be visiting with and writing to David and following his court and appeal process for a reduced sentence. He is trusting God in all things and doing well. I just wanted you all to know that in case you had not heard from him in awhile. Let me know if you have any questions or want to send along any words of encouragement to him. My own son is an E6 still serving his country like all of you have and I want to honor you and David in any way that God leads.
Tom Hardy Springfield, IL
I'm sure by now you've had a chance to research RC, no? By now you surely have slaved through his voluminous posts about his abuse, his heightened security, his dismal childhood, his no recreation, his fraudulant DR's and the fact that he's running out of paints and may not be able to produce many more cards (since he can't make money on them). Of course, you know the situation about why his mother is RESTRICTED from visitation, right? His knee hurts, he's depressed AND he's downright angry that his co-defendent is already out of prison. Did you read about his life prior to incarceration - selling drugs (even to children)? Read any of his trial transcripts to appeals? If not, why not? If so, is your opinion the same? He had nearly a novel's worth of rants about Warden Reddish and continues them in nearly every communication even though that admin, for the most part, has been relocated. Does this sound like someone who has or is willing to atone for the wrongs he has committed in society? Hell no. Not in my book.
Happy that you're amused and this topic conjures up that mental picture. Ignorance is bliss, as they say. In your case I believe that to be true.
There will NEVER come a time when discussing death row inmates that my mind would paint a cartoon image for my amusement. There is nothing amusing about any of the crimes that resulted in incarceration on death row.
As far as you stooping to our level, that's just absurd. You would need a step ladder. Bending would not be necessary. Just 'sayin.
In closing, I find your use of the term "amusing" highly inflamatory and reckless.