I got your letter, and I hear you sent a card as well (at least I assume it was you). Thank you. I've read and re-read the letter a few times. You gave me quite a bit to think about. This is a brief note to say thank you.
I will write a proper letter and mail it after the holidays when I have more time.
Until then, my thoughts are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. One step closer to you being free again.
One more thought, Nicki. Mr. Clark's posts are RIFE with anger and hatred (directed, usually, at the prison administration). BTB has allowed him to fuel his hatred by publishing his rants. Have you considered contacting him personally via snail mail and offering him another venue to vent? Do you honestly think your comments here are going to change Mr. Clarke's demeanor and/or behaviors? Mr. Clarke (as far as I can determine) will never be paroled. He is and will continue to be incarcerated until his number comes up or his higher power decides to forgo that process. That's not my call nor, thankfully, will I ever be asked to make that decision.
Sure, I agree that life on death row certainly seems like a living hell. I do correspond with others on "the row". I am not completely void of empathy and compassion.
The others, however, do not continue to spew hatred or I wouldn't waste my time and/or energy communicating with them (let alone offer any comforts such as commissary). There is an inmate in California to whom I regularly provide $$$ to fund his family's telephone acct. Without my funds, they would be unable to receive his collect phone calls. Gigantic relief for them and a small sacrifice on my part. I also regularly provide funds to others in need. Can you say the same?
As a student of psychology and criminology, surely you know that not all death row convicts are created equal. Some are just bad seeds and need to be removed before they taint the flower bed. While that seems harsh in print, I'm again grateful that I'm not making the decisions as to the fate of Mr. Clarke. I will say I think he could use his time much more wisely rather than his ad nauseum rants.
First of all, my reasons for being here are not your concern. You're not sure of anything (especially the legacy I leave or intend to leave). What a pompous statement...that you're sure about what my family would have wanted.
With that said - you're entitled to blog anything you'd like. Earlier there was a statement on here that as of 12/12/2012 Mr. Clark had nearly $350.00 in his commissary acct yet his blogs are full of whining about needing to cut back on his art as his paints are low. I believe he deliberately misleads the readers in the attempt to solicit funds. I find that underhandedness deplorable.
If you want to give Ronald Clarke the warm fuzzies you go right ahead. Let him rant and rave about Warden Reddish and his henchmen while you hold his hand. Not me.
I don't seek random vengeance, Nicki. I am a victim of Mr. Clarke's (one of MANY). I'd hardly call that random.
Society did not throw these death row inmates away. They are ALL there because there was a murder, they were accused, tried by a jury of peers, and convicted. They, themselves, are responsible...not society.
Have you considered that Mr. Clarke did and continues to defame the former Warden (Reddish). He did and continues to publish undocumented rumors of DUI incidents he has no knowledge of. The records do not reflect his statements. He needs to stop that. His records, however, do depict his crime(s). There are many other crimes for which he was NOT convicted.
I also value Between the Bars as an important learning resource, as a psychology and criminology student. It concerns me that if bloggers only receive negative comments, they will stop contributing here and I, and others, would lose their valuable contributions. I am here to learn from and encourage personal change in those society has thrown away. Why are you here SAH? it often seems like it is to seek random vengeance for your lost loved one. I'm sure that is not the legacy they intended to leave you with
I enjoyed reading your comments Tom. This is one of my beliefs too, that we are all capable of making poor decisions and laws should not rule anyone as beyond redemption.
I live in Australia and as our legal system is based on yours, we thankfully don't have the death penalty either. It makes no sense to me at all... To kill as punishment for killing... What message does that send!?
I Thank you for your thoughtful comments & I know Ronald will too :)
I hold the very simple belief that hatred breeds hatred. It therefore makes sense to me that kindness breeds kindness. I believe in humility and humanity. None of these people have harmed me, and perhaps none of them have been treated with kindness, perhaps my voice is one that can make a positive difference. We all need someone to believe in us. To believe we are capable of more. Capable of doing better and creating a more harmonious world for us all to live in. I am happy with the fact that my voice on this site is your opposing voice SAH. I hope my comments provide hope in a place where it seems there is none.
Continuing to do wrong to those that have done wrong will only continue a cycle of hatred and I will not be a part of that.
What exactly is your motive. I know of you and of know the blood that runs through your veins. You are a great manipulator. There are many people that surround you, who you are able to manipulate, but anyone who has sense knows exactly who you are. I heard your plea in regards to 142 years, yes indeed it was a raw deal. However, wasn't you suppose to get out but instead got caught up using a visitor to smuggle drugs. Do you tell that story to people. Wasn't it you who drained your mother of funds. Also, your father that you beloved so much died of a stroke not a heart attack. You are not the person you have fooled so many people to believe.
NICKI- you seem to want to "bond" with all these death row inmates. I have not read anything by you for the victims. Perhaps you have never been a victim. Your nose up the ass of these men on death row makes me want to puke.
Yea, I agree with you. It’s really messed up. Not only are the Republicans doing this but the Christians too! Every day as I walk the streets of New York City I always hear someone preach about how YOU should believe in God, how God is SO good and how you could be saved if you just repent your sins. It’s all a lie. I was watching something on the TV a couple of weeks ago; this woman was saying how if religion didn't exist, people would kill each other and how believing in God teaches you how to be a good person. You don’t need to be a Christian to be a good person. Also, it’s just all false hope. It’s a crutch to make people feel better about themselves and their lives. I’m probably going off topic here and my response is all choppy but whatever. I'm just going to type away!
Did you know that in the Old Testament the people who wrote the bible wrote about how God was a wrathful God? They wrote how he was vengeful and angry. Then they made a new testament saying how God was a forgiving God. Someone changed it so the people would be more willing to believe in this unholy hoax.
I can’t believe that if Romney became president he was going to try to make abortions and gay marriages illegal. It’s totally unfair. How are you going to be in charge of someone else’s life? (I’m not gay by the way but I support it) Did you know that most people who are gay and who believe in God hate themselves because their religion tells them it’s wrong to feel that way? It’s not like someone wakes up one day and just decides, “You know what, I’m going to be gay for the rest of my life”. No, it just happens, it’s not their fault that their attracted to the same sex. It just happens, and Christians/republicans make them feel bad about it. Also all these people are against abortions but they support the death penalty. A bunch of hypocrites.
If a woman is raped or is forced into incest and has a retarded child, this woman is going to be judged anyway, well maybe not judged but talked about, you know people and their snarky comments “Oh, that’s the woman who gave birth to the rapist child or retarded child.” And if a woman has an abortion everyone wants to burn you at the stake! Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The world would be a better place without the republicans and the Christians.
RSS
I got your letter, and I hear you sent a card as well (at least I assume it was you). Thank you. I've read and re-read the letter a few times. You gave me quite a bit to think about. This is a brief note to say thank you.
I will write a proper letter and mail it after the holidays when I have more time.
Until then, my thoughts are with you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. One step closer to you being free again.
Always,
Jason
Sure, I agree that life on death row certainly seems like a living hell. I do correspond with others on "the row". I am not completely void of empathy and compassion.
The others, however, do not continue to spew hatred or I wouldn't waste my time and/or energy communicating with them (let alone offer any comforts such as commissary). There is an inmate in California to whom I regularly provide $$$ to fund his family's telephone acct. Without my funds, they would be unable to receive his collect phone calls. Gigantic relief for them and a small sacrifice on my part. I also regularly provide funds to others in need. Can you say the same?
As a student of psychology and criminology, surely you know that not all death row convicts are created equal. Some are just bad seeds and need to be removed before they taint the flower bed. While that seems harsh in print, I'm again grateful that I'm not making the decisions as to the fate of Mr. Clarke. I will say I think he could use his time much more wisely rather than his ad nauseum rants.
With that said - you're entitled to blog anything you'd like. Earlier there was a statement on here that as of 12/12/2012 Mr. Clark had nearly $350.00 in his commissary acct yet his blogs are full of whining about needing to cut back on his art as his paints are low. I believe he deliberately misleads the readers in the attempt to solicit funds. I find that underhandedness deplorable.
If you want to give Ronald Clarke the warm fuzzies you go right ahead. Let him rant and rave about Warden Reddish and his henchmen while you hold his hand. Not me.
I don't seek random vengeance, Nicki. I am a victim of Mr. Clarke's (one of MANY). I'd hardly call that random.
Society did not throw these death row inmates away. They are ALL there because there was a murder, they were accused, tried by a jury of peers, and convicted. They, themselves, are responsible...not society.
Have you considered that Mr. Clarke did and continues to defame the former Warden (Reddish). He did and continues to publish undocumented rumors of DUI incidents he has no knowledge of. The records do not reflect his statements. He needs to stop that. His records, however, do depict his crime(s).
There are many other crimes for which he was NOT convicted.
I live in Australia and as our legal system is based on yours, we thankfully don't have the death penalty either. It makes no sense to me at all... To kill as punishment for killing... What message does that send!?
I Thank you for your thoughtful comments & I know Ronald will too :)
Continuing to do wrong to those that have done wrong will only continue a cycle of hatred and I will not be a part of that.
Did you know that in the Old Testament the people who wrote the bible wrote about how God was a wrathful God? They wrote how he was vengeful and angry. Then they made a new testament saying how God was a forgiving God. Someone changed it so the people would be more willing to believe in this unholy hoax.
I can’t believe that if Romney became president he was going to try to make abortions and gay marriages illegal. It’s totally unfair. How are you going to be in charge of someone else’s life? (I’m not gay by the way but I support it) Did you know that most people who are gay and who believe in God hate themselves because their religion tells them it’s wrong to feel that way? It’s not like someone wakes up one day and just decides, “You know what, I’m going to be gay for the rest of my life”. No, it just happens, it’s not their fault that their attracted to the same sex. It just happens, and Christians/republicans make them feel bad about it. Also all these people are against abortions but they support the death penalty. A bunch of hypocrites.
If a woman is raped or is forced into incest and has a retarded child, this woman is going to be judged anyway, well maybe not judged but talked about, you know people and their snarky comments “Oh, that’s the woman who gave birth to the rapist child or retarded child.” And if a woman has an abortion everyone wants to burn you at the stake! Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The world would be a better place without the republicans and the Christians.
You are conveying a very clear message and that is all that's important in this forum. Thank you for sharing!
Nicki