Dear Maisha, Already over a year ago, I (and my assistent Jennifer) can to Pulaski to make portraits. You were one of the people I portrayed. I sent your (and all the others') portraits to Pulaski, and as far as I know, you must have received that photo.
I have to apologize for not having posted the work on my website (www.janbanning.com) publicly, as I promised: I have to do this work in my spare time, and I don't have much of that.
The photos are on the site, but still behind a password (Pulaski123). But soon, a first series of portraits and texts will be 'unlocked'. I'm afraid there is no way for you to see the work, but let me explain briefly what my intention is, below.
I have an important question: is it OK for you if I also post your texts from “Inkspills”? I hope you are able to answer to this.
The goals of the post: Aim 1: Challenge our views on criminality. I am not condoning crime. I just refuse to accept that people who committed one are fundamental different from us, that they are the bad guys as opposed to us, the goodies. What about you? Are you sure that decent citizens are better human beings than these inmates? In the past, I for one have done something that could have landed me in prison. But since I was not caught, I am one of the flawless. And do we really want to limit ourselves to punishing them, even though no connection has been proven between imprisonment and crime rates? Or is there more than cynicism in the term “Department of Corrections”?
Aim 2. Question the role of the internet. We as a society have decided that the consequence of committing a serious crime is serving time in prison. If and when a person has served that, he/she is entitled to start a new life. But recently, a second – life - sentence has been added, so far especially in the USA, by a new form of people’s tribunal outside of the democratic decision-making process: offenders’ names, faces and other information are put on the internet. The availability of this is bound to have a strong impact on former inmates’ lives and their chances to move on to a new, non-criminal life – if only because the big mayority of U.S. employers performs criminal background checks on prospective employees.
Of course, I can tell you more about it - if you like.
I hope you are doing well - at least as good as is possible, under the circumstances. I also hope we will be able to communicate via this blog. Best regards and good luck from Utrecht, the Netherlands, Jan Banning info@janbanning.com
Your daughter is a teenager. This means that she is struggling with the same things that all teens struggle with. On top of that -- there is a whole lot more, of course.
I do not want to speculate about it on a public forum for a variety of reasons - the first of which is that this is her story. She is in charge of her narrative (and I respect that).
Of course, she will either continue to talk about it - or not. And she will continue to do so here - on this forum - or in private.
She is very articulate and I have confidence that she will do what she needs/wants.
My only advice to you is that you must accept her anger and her hurt (as you have). This is your job.
But, you must also be careful not to hold to this too tightly - you must accept it - because it is true, but then you must forge ahead with compassion (for everyone - including yourself).
All of us learn by example - you have learned that by being compassionate you can heal. So, even with this new hurt - you must continue down that path. This is the example you must set for others. Okay?
I am sure that this does not feel like enough - but it is. It is all you can do in this moment, so it is a complete action. It is enough.
Maybe you will have a chance to do something else - soon - or maybe someday way off in the future. If you do, then bring your compassionate self to that task, too.
But today - just do today - okay?
It really is enough.
And if you do that - everyday - you will ALREADY have answered the questions in your post :).
This piece reminds me much of a modernist, stream-of-consciousness style. I like it. I wonder why it's called Irish Soup? Because the piece is a potpourri of different thoughts? I hope you find that wisdom lying around somewhere (check under the desk). But seriously, being respected is one gift of growing older; glad to see you're enjoying it. By the way, your handwriting is very unique, and the different colors really pop out and emphasize the whole 'Irish Soup' theme. Memories and dreams are pleasurable, but sometimes they can distract us from the joys right under our noses. Anyway, I hope you continue to write; can't wait to read your next piece. Best, Calhoun25
SINGING the song from "Beaches",,,You are the wind beneath my wings. The lyrics are powerful so I will post them here. :
Wind Beneath My Wings"
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. It must have been cold there in my shadow, to never have sunlight on your face. You were content to let me shine, that's your way. You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory, while you were the one with all the strength. A beautiful face without a name for so long. A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero, and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed, but I've got it all here in my heart. I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it. I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be. I could fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything, everything I wish I could be. Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings, 'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings. You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings. Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high. Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings. Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky, so high I almost touch the sky. Thank you, thank you, thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
RSS
Already over a year ago, I (and my assistent Jennifer) can to Pulaski to make portraits. You were one of the people I portrayed. I sent your (and all the others') portraits to Pulaski, and as far as I know, you must have received that photo.
I have to apologize for not having posted the work on my website (www.janbanning.com) publicly, as I promised: I have to do this work in my spare time, and I don't have much of that.
The photos are on the site, but still behind a password (Pulaski123).
But soon, a first series of portraits and texts will be 'unlocked'. I'm afraid there is no way for you to see the work, but let me explain briefly what my intention is, below.
I have an important question: is it OK for you if I also post your texts from “Inkspills”? I hope you are able to answer to this.
The goals of the post:
Aim 1: Challenge our views on criminality.
I am not condoning crime. I just refuse to accept that people who committed one are fundamental different from us, that they are the bad guys as opposed to us, the goodies. What about you? Are you sure that decent citizens are better human beings than these inmates? In the past, I for one have done something that could have landed me in prison. But since I was not caught, I am one of the flawless.
And do we really want to limit ourselves to punishing them, even though no connection has been proven between imprisonment and crime rates? Or is there more than cynicism in the term “Department of Corrections”?
Aim 2. Question the role of the internet.
We as a society have decided that the consequence of committing a serious crime is serving time in prison. If and when a person has served that, he/she is entitled to start a new life.
But recently, a second – life - sentence has been added, so far especially in the USA, by a new form of people’s tribunal outside of the democratic decision-making process: offenders’ names, faces and other information are put on the internet.
The availability of this is bound to have a strong impact on former inmates’ lives and their chances to move on to a new, non-criminal life – if only because the big mayority of U.S. employers performs criminal background checks on prospective employees.
Of course, I can tell you more about it - if you like.
I hope you are doing well - at least as good as is possible, under the circumstances. I also hope we will be able to communicate via this blog.
Best regards and good luck from Utrecht, the Netherlands,
Jan Banning
info@janbanning.com
I do not want to speculate about it on a public forum for a variety of reasons - the first of which is that this is her story. She is in charge of her narrative (and I respect that).
Of course, she will either continue to talk about it - or not. And she will continue to do so here - on this forum - or in private.
She is very articulate and I have confidence that she will do what she needs/wants.
My only advice to you is that you must accept her anger and her hurt (as you have). This is your job.
But, you must also be careful not to hold to this too tightly - you must accept it - because it is true, but then you must forge ahead with compassion (for everyone - including yourself).
All of us learn by example - you have learned that by being compassionate you can heal. So, even with this new hurt - you must continue down that path. This is the example you must set for others. Okay?
I am sure that this does not feel like enough - but it is. It is all you can do in this moment, so it is a complete action. It is enough.
Maybe you will have a chance to do something else - soon - or maybe someday way off in the future. If you do, then bring your compassionate self to that task, too.
But today - just do today - okay?
It really is enough.
And if you do that - everyday - you will ALREADY have answered the questions in your post :).
Perhaps you already have.
jt
Best,
Calhoun25
Sorry I get back to you only now. I didn't check the account a long time - and really didn't expect any answer at all. So I am quite surprised :-)
The way you describe your present situation doesn't sound great. Maybe you can find a way to turn it into something good anyways.
Life is what you make out of the stuff you got. And if your soul feels like a wishing well: You're lucky! You just have to use it.
Have a good day!
Drea
Never heard this story. Sounds interesting...
Julia
Wind Beneath My Wings"
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.
troubling at best.