Your post is completely heartbreaking. As a Psychology (& criminology) student I am appauled at a system that can affect this outcome on an individual's mental health. I don't live in the U.S. but of course this scenario is no doubt playing out in prisons all over the world, every single day. I actually read an article on Facebook today linked from a prison advocacy group for women here in Australia. It was an article in the New York times today, a Psychiatrist speaking about the effects of over use of solitary confinement in the U.S.A. These were a couple of passages from that article that I thought related to your story & might interest you:
"...depriving people of freedom may be justifiable. But prolonged isolation inflicts another kind of harm, one that can never be justified. This harm is ontological; it violates the very structure of our relational being...For the sake of justice, not only for them but for ourselves, we must put an end to the over-use of solitary confinement in this country, and we must begin the difficult but mutually rewarding work of bringing the tens of thousands of currently isolated prisoners back into the world". They were quotes from Lisa Guenther. Associate Professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University and the author of "Social Death and Its Afterlives: A Critical Phenomenology of Solitary Confinement."
This article began..."There are many ways to destroy a person, but the simplest and most devastating might be solitary confinement. Deprived of meaningful human contact, otherwise healthy prisoners often come unhinged. They experience intense anxiety, paranoia, depression, memory loss, hallucinations and other perceptual distortions. Psychiatrists call this cluster of symptoms SHU syndrome, named after the Security Housing Units of many supermax prisons."
This illness isn't confined to only people in solitary confinement of course, it can effect anyone overcome by the reality of living in confinement. It's a devistating reality and one I'm sure you're only too aware of. I sent you this information, not to upset you further, but to show you that there are scientific terms for the things you see, there are studies being carried out and there are people advocating for change. It hardly seems enough though does it.
I hope for you that tomorrow is a better day. Thank you for sharing your story.
Shalom comrade laron i dont have any money post a letter to you until next monday unless something comes up in the meantime but den i be writing hopefully send some more stuff do with that book about all this mind control i can print some more off maybe buy the book. i received your letter yeah is hard now to exchange quids for dollars have to have a minimum amount plus is charge an extra fee and i got limited amount income still on govt benefits lucky i certified crazy get double bubble at least so i aint complaining just hard sometimes fathom best way use it is meant for use of Allah cause i will be able order that radio online i hope thx for send how to bit mad u in jail i got the internet access more but u is help me do that but we all got roles to play link them up is like get whole big picture i get same probs if need payback funds to Ghana mi orphan adopted sista and fam i like help support cos is support me heaps but i heard rumour Western Union scam robbers be took over by Wu Tang soon i shud be careful check if its true first you know some of these rumours can spread like wildfire but sounds more likely than this pharisee kingdom of slavery no jokes music or djinn i no idea what solomon he follow must be mate of his white jesus he big up sum cointelpro jesus in da bible turn brutha against brutha invade lands and kill ppl just take womans is bad enuf but in the name of rastafari too hes on a one way ticket if he dont repent and he aint going to Haile i wouldnt have thought maybe somewhere similar sound like cockney rhyming slang..mi khat say cheers for confirm cia have list of all ppl tried to take a stand against criminal in actions tyranny lucky this mind reading stuff too cos i bet lot us wanted do more but they had us too messed up on their drugs and invisible negative energy weapons intefer with our vibe...i saw on wakeupprojectr near da end satan is just set this up for Yehoshuwa to overtake hopefully this is so Jah is know whos who i sure He does anyway maybe is more reasurance for us is kingdom inside too like u say in midst of us also lucky i read in quran even if just think or intend do something but dont work out gets reward. i feel bad not done much good deeds i wake up sometimes thinking i done some in my sleep. i thik my cat had a nightmare the othernight the cia had turned him into a sleeping policeman assasin he woke up at battersea dogs home with a sirius dog he used to know scared he been sent to kill him mi cat was scared too and confused cos is a comrade of lion of judah tho not a black panther like him he down with all cool cats he finally worked it out the cia had been read his thoughts backwards they were just being used and had secrectly in derision by jAH to help him fulfill oscar bageera purpose break his canine friend outda jail...stay bless fam One Love.
I think a lot of us feel that very same way, that time is passing us by, even when we haven't been excluded from the world. I still get my 18 year old daughter to show me how to work anything technological, probably always will!
I wish you all the good things in the world as you step back out to join us all again. I'm sure your next Fender Telecaster is waiting patiently for you :)
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post "What's your excuse?". No joke, I came to it while struggling with something in my life where I'm selling myself short. You're right, when I try to take an objective look at what's going on, it doesn't stand up under scrutiny :)
I think everyone can utilise the story of the snail & the worm to better their own lives. For me the tree is studying & raising my children on my own, the apple will be a degree and providing the world with 3 more well adjusted young people. Thank you for sharing this story, I will use it to help me to be mindful of my determination in the difficult times.
Although you have a tough system to face, some might say it's set up for you fail (that is what my criminology lecturer teaches of the U.S. criminal justice system here in Australia) but with determination like you have, there is nothing you can't achieve. Stay focused on your goal & I have no doubt you WILL enjoy the taste of the sweetest apple!
How are you doing? This will be my 3rd attempt in writing you. I had first written you back in January, letting you know about watching your episode, and how impactful your words were about the little things in life, such as Ice Water. Remember that? You were a topic of conversation in my home for a good long while. They aired the episode again, and the kids loved watching you on TV. Anyway, I wanted to see if you preferred us writing you on this blog site, or direct mail? Anyway, we check on you a few months ago but never heard back. Hope all is ok, or if you would prefer for us to chill then we'll write you less often. Either way, we hope you are doing ok in your newer surroundings. Last we saw on TV, you had your hair cut. I bet it's coming back already. Anyway, let me know about the mailing, and I'd like to maybe see about giving you the means to eat the occasional treat from the commissary. Please understand that we feel you were given a raw deal with your sentance, and you have taught us a few things on the outside. You have my word we have only good intentions.
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post. Although I see this was posted in January (on my birthday incidentally) I've seen a couple of articles pop up and was a bit confused as to what 'Write or die' actually is. Once I realised this post explained more, I was curious, yet I struggled to read it, (as you said... I'll get used to your writing in time) I decided if I transcribed this post, it would make more sense... and now it all does! (phew).
I'd be interested to follow your posts & your journal if & when you do get that started, if it doesn't just remain an idea you're toying with. I live in a country which doesn't have the death penalty, thankfully; but I would be very interested to follow your stories.
I look forward to reading more. Thank you for your post.
RSS
"...depriving people of freedom may be justifiable. But prolonged isolation inflicts another kind of harm, one that can never be justified. This harm is ontological; it violates the very structure of our relational being...For the sake of justice, not only for them but for ourselves, we must put an end to the over-use of solitary confinement in this country, and we must begin the difficult but mutually rewarding work of bringing the tens of thousands of currently isolated prisoners back into the world". They were quotes from Lisa Guenther. Associate Professor of philosophy at Vanderbilt University and the author of "Social Death and Its Afterlives: A Critical Phenomenology of Solitary Confinement."
This article began..."There are many ways to destroy a person, but the simplest and most devastating might be solitary confinement. Deprived of meaningful human contact, otherwise healthy prisoners often come unhinged. They experience intense anxiety, paranoia, depression, memory loss, hallucinations and other perceptual distortions. Psychiatrists call this cluster of symptoms SHU syndrome, named after the Security Housing Units of many supermax prisons."
This illness isn't confined to only people in solitary confinement of course, it can effect anyone overcome by the reality of living in confinement. It's a devistating reality and one I'm sure you're only too aware of. I sent you this information, not to upset you further, but to show you that there are scientific terms for the things you see, there are studies being carried out and there are people advocating for change. It hardly seems enough though does it.
I hope for you that tomorrow is a better day. Thank you for sharing your story.
Nicki
I wish you all the good things in the world as you step back out to join us all again. I'm sure your next Fender Telecaster is waiting patiently for you :)
Enjoy your grandbabies!
I think everyone can utilise the story of the snail & the worm to better their own lives. For me the tree is studying & raising my children on my own, the apple will be a degree and providing the world with 3 more well adjusted young people. Thank you for sharing this story, I will use it to help me to be mindful of my determination in the difficult times.
Although you have a tough system to face, some might say it's set up for you fail (that is what my criminology lecturer teaches of the U.S. criminal justice system here in Australia) but with determination like you have, there is nothing you can't achieve. Stay focused on your goal & I have no doubt you WILL enjoy the taste of the sweetest apple!
Thank you for brightening my day! :)
It was a pleasure transcribing your poem. Thank you for sharing.
Sincerely,
Kyle Proehl
How are you doing? This will be my 3rd attempt in writing you. I had first written you back in January, letting you know about watching your episode, and how impactful your words were about the little things in life, such as Ice Water. Remember that? You were a topic of conversation in my home for a good long while. They aired the episode again, and the kids loved watching you on TV. Anyway, I wanted to see if you preferred us writing you on this blog site, or direct mail? Anyway, we check on you a few months ago but never heard back. Hope all is ok, or if you would prefer for us to chill then we'll write you less often. Either way, we hope you are doing ok in your newer surroundings. Last we saw on TV, you had your hair cut. I bet it's coming back already. Anyway, let me know about the mailing, and I'd like to maybe see about giving you the means to eat the occasional treat from the commissary. Please understand that we feel you were given a raw deal with your sentance, and you have taught us a few things on the outside. You have my word we have only good intentions.
Take care, Christopher.
Regards, Carlos H. (Northern California)
I'd be interested to follow your posts & your journal if & when you do get that started, if it doesn't just remain an idea you're toying with. I live in a country which doesn't have the death penalty, thankfully; but I would be very interested to follow your stories.
I look forward to reading more. Thank you for your post.
Nicki