It's so funny that as you were waffling away on your post, you spoke of exactly what I was reading for a class just this morning about essays. And yes, according to this article I was reading, (from the 2nd Ed. of Twenty-Five Great Essays, edited by Robert KiYanni of New York University) the word essay is based on the French word "essais", being French for 'attempts', as you said. However it was apparently coined by Michel de Montaigne; not Moliere. Montaigne is said to be the 'father of the essay'. Riveting stuff! haha.
I found it interesting to read what you had to say about the election process there in the U.S. That is an OBSCENE amount of money to spend on an election campaign. I have also had a similar discussion with my daughter before about the voting process. Here in Australia voting is compulsory, if you don't vote, you get fined. I think at some stage they will have to introduce on-line voting for the tech-savy Gen Ys who are too busy to line up for a polling booth. Your idea is awesome! the way to make it work is to have everyone registered with a password that can only be used once.
Don't stop revolutionising the world with your ideas! :D
The last line of your post made me smile. Sadly though it's more true than funny.
I'm sure it will pay off Johnny. Busy is the best thing you can be!
I'm pleased to hear you refuse to conform to the norm & won't give up on your goals. Children are good at providing that drive aren't they; mine do the same for me. It's Father's Day here this weekend so from one caring parent to another, I wish you a Happy Father's Day!
I wish you all the best. I write to a friend, Ray, who also is incarcerated. he is a wonderful person and is on this website as well. If you like you can write to him. I am sure he would appreciate it and you would feel good about it too!
I wish you all the best. I write to a friend, Ray, who also is incarcerated. he is a wonderful person and is on this website as well. If you like you can write to him. I am sure he would appreciate it and you would feel good about it too!
I know it's you Ray. You have told me part of this story. It is still as touching. I am so happy that you share your love with her all around the world this way.
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.
RSS
I found it interesting to read what you had to say about the election process there in the U.S. That is an OBSCENE amount of money to spend on an election campaign. I have also had a similar discussion with my daughter before about the voting process. Here in Australia voting is compulsory, if you don't vote, you get fined. I think at some stage they will have to introduce on-line voting for the tech-savy Gen Ys who are too busy to line up for a polling booth. Your idea is awesome! the way to make it work is to have everyone registered with a password that can only be used once.
Don't stop revolutionising the world with your ideas! :D
The last line of your post made me smile. Sadly though it's more true than funny.
Thanks for your post!
Nicki
I'm pleased to hear you refuse to conform to the norm & won't give up on your goals. Children are good at providing that drive aren't they; mine do the same for me. It's Father's Day here this weekend so from one caring parent to another, I wish you a Happy Father's Day!
Nicki
Thank you for the laugh!! :D
Nicki
Sincerely
Sincerely,
Kyle Proehl
Bob Buckler
Raymond Alderman
#14244922
TRCI
82911 Beach Access Road
Umatilla, or. 97882
I wish you all the best. I write to a friend, Ray, who also is incarcerated. he is a wonderful person and is on this website as well. If you like you can write to him. I am sure he would appreciate it and you would feel good about it too!
Bob Buckler
Raymond Alderman
#14244922
TRCI
82911 Beach Access Road
Umatilla, or. 97882
Love,
Bob
"...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