I won't lose contact with my friend. We have been writing for 3 years now. We send letters at least once a week and have grown very close. He is an important part of my life and helps me every day to appreciate all that I have.
I think the same is true for us all, whether we are in prison or not, we all want to know we have an important place in someone's life - that we would be missed if we were no longer here. Reading posts like yours always makes me consciously thankful and grateful for the contact I have with my family and friends. Thank you for reminding me how important they are :)
I'll reply to this one while I'm here as Debleg transcribes many posts here on btb.
What it means is that she has transcribed your words into typed text. Transcriptions make your blogs more accessible to search engines, translators and visitors to the site, so it is possible more people will now read your words.
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post. Don't quit, you have a sharp, inquisitive mind and they can't imprison that! God bless, and I wish you peace...
i love you and i want to let yoy know that i got your online letter today.
i don't know if i will get home before christmas, but i did start the paperwork yesterday, and my p.o. said if california will get right on that i could make it.
i talked to cella the other day and she is supposed to send pictures from thanksgiving. she said they didn't take alot because james was so sick, and we would be able to tell the differance in the pictures.
i will make copies and send them to you as soon as i get them.
i will end this for now by telling you once again that i miss you.
Could someone possess a little activism? or a little self-censorship? or are the two at different ends of a sliding scale. I guess I see us as opposite ends of the human spectrum in many ways, but with the same beliefs. Many of the things you do and say I greatly respect and in many ways, I wish I was more like you, but then I'm not an extremest by any means. And do I need to be to make any real difference?
You fascinate me Jeremy and I'm sure when you answer these questions I've posed to you, I'll probably just have more questions :)
I often comment on posts about how I like BtB for the way it shows us our similarities... but you are one person whose differences (to my nature), fascinate me.
I must begin by saying this question may come from my own ignorance or misunderstanding, perhaps just a different cultural perspective from your own, but perhaps you can help me understand in your usual eloquent manner.
You describe your crime as one of "runaway words". I understand Americans hold dear the right to "freedom of speech" which actually seems ironic to me because there seems to be more restrictions on what you can and can't say in the USA (since 9/11 specifically) than here in my country where we don't tout the right of free speech, it is simply a silent expectation that it is a right we possess.
Having said that, I personally see real merits in not fully disclosing every detail of our lives publicly. I believe there is a way to be an authentic version of ourselves with the use of self-censorship, and only disclosing certain parts of ourselves to those that will benefit from that knowledge. I see no reason to discuss all of my sexual preferences with my mother for example, because I don't see how that knowledge would benefit her in any way. Of course if I was gay and that was my personal identity, I imagine I would then, without a second thought.
I guess in short, what troubles me, is that if you continue to be the man who says what's on his mind and in his heart, regardless of the consequences, will you be required to serve a second prison sentence in the future for once again standing up for your beliefs. I realize that is an extreme example, but it's the best way I can illustrate what I'm getting at.
I just would hate to see your activism be self defeating all over again. In my mind, something will have to change in the way you approach your causes, but are you prepared to do that? And will your strong spirit of conviction allow you to do that..?
I must also acknowledge that 'my' views that I have shared with you here could be what upsets you so very much. It could be what you see as others lack of interest in changing the evils of the world, how evil reigns when good people say or do nothing. Perhaps my views seem extreme to you as at times yours do to me..?
This is a conversation I'm interested in having with you, simply because I believe we share the same views on matters that are important, but your willingness to self sacrifice is much greater than mine, and I want to understand you more. I fully respect someone who performs the role of an activist, but do they always suffer personally as a result of providing this service to our societies. You certainly appear to.
I appreciate you wanting to protect my anonymity, but in this case there was no need to. I am proud to be your dear friend and I believe that perhaps others may be curious about the same things I am, so I'm grateful to you for sharing of yourself in the way that you do. I believe the more we can learn about our fellow humans, the more we can respect our similarities and differences so I thank you for the part you are playing in bringing us together through your candid disclosures.
I am pleased to hear you have felt the intensity of love before and I hope that experience gives you a benchmark in your darkest hours, reminding you of how good things can become.
I was however, actually going somewhere else on my journey of building trust through my own self disclosure, then asking that one important question of you, so here is what I actually find difficult to process...
I love reading your words, they're very sweet, genuine and heartfelt.
I was just going through my pile of important things to do and realized I haven't yet replied to your previous questions and comments. I will do that now and send you the information I printed for you on the Pandora.
Take care Anthony. You will be in my thoughts this Christmas.
RSS
I think the same is true for us all, whether we are in prison or not, we all want to know we have an important place in someone's life - that we would be missed if we were no longer here. Reading posts like yours always makes me consciously thankful and grateful for the contact I have with my family and friends. Thank you for reminding me how important they are :)
What it means is that she has transcribed your words into typed text. Transcriptions make your blogs more accessible to search engines, translators and visitors to the site, so it is possible more people will now read your words.
I hope you're feeling the love :)
Nicki
i love you and i want to let yoy know that i got your online letter today.
i don't know if i will get home before christmas, but i did start the paperwork yesterday, and my p.o. said if california will get right on that i could make it.
i talked to cella the other day and she is supposed to send pictures from thanksgiving. she said they didn't take alot because james was so sick, and we would be able to tell the differance in the pictures.
i will make copies and send them to you as soon as i get them.
i will end this for now by telling you once again that i miss you.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
YOUR BABY SISTER
LINDA
Could someone possess a little activism? or a little self-censorship? or are the two at different ends of a sliding scale. I guess I see us as opposite ends of the human spectrum in many ways, but with the same beliefs. Many of the things you do and say I greatly respect and in many ways, I wish I was more like you, but then I'm not an extremest by any means. And do I need to be to make any real difference?
You fascinate me Jeremy and I'm sure when you answer these questions I've posed to you, I'll probably just have more questions :)
I often comment on posts about how I like BtB for the way it shows us our similarities... but you are one person whose differences (to my nature), fascinate me.
Take care my friend.
Nicki
You describe your crime as one of "runaway words". I understand Americans hold dear the right to "freedom of speech" which actually seems ironic to me because there seems to be more restrictions on what you can and can't say in the USA (since 9/11 specifically) than here in my country where we don't tout the right of free speech, it is simply a silent expectation that it is a right we possess.
Having said that, I personally see real merits in not fully disclosing every detail of our lives publicly. I believe there is a way to be an authentic version of ourselves with the use of self-censorship, and only disclosing certain parts of ourselves to those that will benefit from that knowledge. I see no reason to discuss all of my sexual preferences with my mother for example, because I don't see how that knowledge would benefit her in any way. Of course if I was gay and that was my personal identity, I imagine I would then, without a second thought.
I guess in short, what troubles me, is that if you continue to be the man who says what's on his mind and in his heart, regardless of the consequences, will you be required to serve a second prison sentence in the future for once again standing up for your beliefs. I realize that is an extreme example, but it's the best way I can illustrate what I'm getting at.
I just would hate to see your activism be self defeating all over again. In my mind, something will have to change in the way you approach your causes, but are you prepared to do that? And will your strong spirit of conviction allow you to do that..?
I must also acknowledge that 'my' views that I have shared with you here could be what upsets you so very much. It could be what you see as others lack of interest in changing the evils of the world, how evil reigns when good people say or do nothing. Perhaps my views seem extreme to you as at times yours do to me..?
This is a conversation I'm interested in having with you, simply because I believe we share the same views on matters that are important, but your willingness to self sacrifice is much greater than mine, and I want to understand you more. I fully respect someone who performs the role of an activist, but do they always suffer personally as a result of providing this service to our societies. You certainly appear to.
I am pleased to hear you have felt the intensity of love before and I hope that experience gives you a benchmark in your darkest hours, reminding you of how good things can become.
I was however, actually going somewhere else on my journey of building trust through my own self disclosure, then asking that one important question of you, so here is what I actually find difficult to process...
I was just going through my pile of important things to do and realized I haven't yet replied to your previous questions and comments. I will do that now and send you the information I printed for you on the Pandora.
Take care Anthony. You will be in my thoughts this Christmas.
Nicki