Tim, This proposal is a necessary one, too many inmates that are ill and are not getting the proper treatment. No person should have to suffer intentionally, I hope that everyone sees that this needed and that it moves forward and someday soon becomes a reality! Lynette
Tim, Is this newsletter available only on the site here or on the web? Or can one subscribe to it? Let me know ok? Does CURE-ARM have a newsletter?? Lynette
Tim, We will get this book written! Your poems are a reflection of who you are and what you have been through, of your struggle and all the good you are doing for others! Love these poems! Lynette
Tim, From this latest installment I can see that God is working through you and everyone involved in the effort to change things at Shirley and other prisons as well. Too many of us on the outside don't see the "big picture", inmates are human, they too are God's children, they have made mistakes, and they are paying for them, it doesn't mean that they shouldn't be treated as such, I am in awe at the work you and all involved are doing! Lynette
Tim, Wow!! This story hit home for me, not in the sense that it personally happened to me but in my criminal justice class we had to write on this exact same topic, two famous cases which I cant recall the names at present but both teens, both sentenced to life in prison, one deserved the sentence yet the other one didn't, this topic is one that has so many black, white yet grey areas! I hope to hear more on this subject! Lynette
Anyway, it occurs to me that there is great honor in making this decision. If he had continued to fight - continued to be the warrior that he was for all of his life - what would he have contributed to our evolving respect for native american culture? He would just have been another warrior that died. Sad - but he would have been largely forgotten.
Anyway, I know that it's hard to write and capture what you want - so I may not be putting this well. I'm really not saying you should do anything different - it's not about doing, but about the fact I think there is honor in many choices. I understand the honor in your choice - but I also see- perhaps, honor in theirs.
We (you and I) cannot know the honor they possess - because we have not walked in their shoes - and don't know the good they are doing. They could be sitting there as liars - having done no good - with no honor. Or they could be sitting there as brave men who are committed to change. To walking a very peaceful - good - path.
Perhaps someday they will become leaders for change. Or just everyday good men who take care of their children, their families and practice honor in their everyday life.
For me, giving some distance to the KNOWING for sure what happened - and not knowing for sure (as we don't) *also* softens the anger, - and the judgment. It allows life to have space (not everything is black/white).
And it isn't.
Anyway, that last piece is from MY experience of life, too. It's what I practice.
I do hope you are well and encouraged by the hearings - and all of the developments that I read about. You really do have my best wishes.
The first thing I thought of when I read your post was when to put things down. I kind of remembered the example of Chief Joseph (perhaps you remember the movie: From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more).
The thing is, he never stopped fighting. He fought his whole life. He went to Washington - he spoke out everywhere for his people.
He never got his land back - the thing that he wanted so much. But we (Americans who are not native to this land) remember him and his example. And he has contributed - these many years later - to ongoing reforms. At my child's school, they talk about what we did to native Americans at Thanksgiving. When I was a child, this would not have happened.
I'm not saying there isn't much to be done (there is - native Americans still suffer). But his example is a powerful one of hope, courage and strength. And it made an impression that lasted so much longer than his life -
I am not someone given to fighting - so I don't know what it feels like to have all of that energy in life. But I DO know what it's like to be angry and feel like you are right. I can feel very angry and very self righteous! And I also know how hard it is to change (I'm trying!)
Putting down those feelings is always (always!) very hard. But I know that there is also honor in letting go of the fight. I work on that quite a bit ;-).
I'm old (50 this year) - and it's still hard to realize that my opinions are not the center of the universe. I just got into an discussion today in which I KNOW I'm right :) - but I also have to let it go. There is honor in letting things go - in the service of better things.
Anyway, I am sharing my struggle - because I also struggle - like we all do. It's different than yours, but to me it feels very real and powerful.
I think there IS honor in putting it all down, too.
I guess I'm just looking from the outside - and I see honor in what you are doing - the things that are good, caring (of your family and friends) - and positive. Urging kids to make good decisions - that's honorable.
But those men you looked at - you think you understand that they have no honor because of the choices they made.
You don't know this. It is possible that *for them* they had to do something very different in order to change. Maybe they *have* put it all down (the things from the past) and they are making an effort to be more peaceful, kinder - and the only way *they* could do this - was to make the decision they did.
Maybe - *for them* this was the only way to put down the anger/the need for revenge?
I'm not speaking for them - or even for *one* of them - I'm just reflecting that even things that look like defeat - or dishonor - from the outside - can be something else. How can we know? We don't even know what was said - perhaps the things they said only took responsibility for what they have done.
I know this is the point. And I'm not saying this is what happened. Just - how do we know? What value is there in judging what we don't know?
I'm asking if there is *benefit for you* - and I'm asking sincerely - out of respect.
You know, I think that I am an honorable person. I try everyday to do something that I can for someone else. I'm not wealthy - and I don't always have time to spare (I'm busy ;-). But every day I try to do something that helps. Even if it's just a very small thing.
This is honorable. To some people, it's a small life. But to me - my life is trying to help people. And that's good.
There is a lot that you have written and I've been thinking about how to respond. I'm pretty sure I can't do a good job of this - you have written so much - and there would be so much to write back. But I want to try - you'll have to forgive the fact that I have only responded to a bit. I have read it all a few times and have thought about it a great deal.
On the one hand, I feel like you have had a very difficult road - one that continues. I know that you have chosen to make the best of it (studying math, doing art).
I don't know how people survive in those SHU's without losing it. All the strength - and even all those codes you learned from the past - well, I'll bet they help. Without all of that - it would be harder.
I have a great deal of respect for you - I mean that sincerely. And please keep in mind that I do NOT support the process in California. I also very much believe in change and I hope that the policy of debriefing changes.
But here's the point that I also want to make. I think there is also strength in putting it down. You write that you looked at those men who were now in PC and you thought they had no honor. (That's what you meant?)
RSS
This proposal is a necessary one, too many inmates that are ill and are not getting the proper treatment. No person should have to suffer intentionally, I hope that everyone sees that this needed and that it moves forward and someday soon becomes a reality!
Lynette
Is this newsletter available only on the site here or on the web? Or can one subscribe to it? Let me know ok?
Does CURE-ARM have a newsletter??
Lynette
We will get this book written! Your poems are a reflection of who you are and what you have been through, of your struggle and all the good you are doing for others! Love these poems! Lynette
From this latest installment I can see that God is working through you and everyone involved in the effort to change things at Shirley and other prisons as well. Too many of us on the outside don't see the "big picture", inmates are human, they too are God's children, they have made mistakes, and they are paying for them, it doesn't mean that they shouldn't be treated as such, I am in awe at the work you and all involved are doing!
Lynette
Wow!! This story hit home for me, not in the sense that it personally happened to me but in my criminal justice class we had to write on this exact same topic, two famous cases which I cant recall the names at present but both teens, both sentenced to life in prison, one deserved the sentence yet the other one didn't, this topic is one that has so many black, white yet grey areas! I hope to hear more on this subject! Lynette
Anyway, I know that it's hard to write and capture what you want - so I may not be putting this well. I'm really not saying you should do anything different - it's not about doing, but about the fact I think there is honor in many choices. I understand the honor in your choice - but I also see- perhaps, honor in theirs.
We (you and I) cannot know the honor they possess - because we have not walked in their shoes - and don't know the good they are doing. They could be sitting there as liars - having done no good - with no honor. Or they could be sitting there as brave men who are committed to change. To walking a very peaceful - good - path.
Perhaps someday they will become leaders for change. Or just everyday good men who take care of their children, their families and practice honor in their everyday life.
For me, giving some distance to the KNOWING for sure what happened - and not knowing for sure (as we don't) *also* softens the anger, - and the judgment. It allows life to have space (not everything is black/white).
And it isn't.
Anyway, that last piece is from MY experience of life, too. It's what I practice.
I do hope you are well and encouraged by the hearings - and all of the developments that I read about. You really do have my best wishes.
JT
The thing is, he never stopped fighting. He fought his whole life. He went to Washington - he spoke out everywhere for his people.
He never got his land back - the thing that he wanted so much. But we (Americans who are not native to this land) remember him and his example. And he has contributed - these many years later - to ongoing reforms. At my child's school, they talk about what we did to native Americans at Thanksgiving. When I was a child, this would not have happened.
I'm not saying there isn't much to be done (there is - native Americans still suffer). But his example is a powerful one of hope, courage and strength. And it made an impression that lasted so much longer than his life -
Putting down those feelings is always (always!) very hard. But I know that there is also honor in letting go of the fight. I work on that quite a bit ;-).
I'm old (50 this year) - and it's still hard to realize that my opinions are not the center of the universe. I just got into an discussion today in which I KNOW I'm right :) - but I also have to let it go. There is honor in letting things go - in the service of better things.
Anyway, I am sharing my struggle - because I also struggle - like we all do. It's different than yours, but to me it feels very real and powerful.
Change is VERY hard for everyone.
I guess I'm just looking from the outside - and I see honor in what you are doing - the things that are good, caring (of your family and friends) - and positive. Urging kids to make good decisions - that's honorable.
But those men you looked at - you think you understand that they have no honor because of the choices they made.
You don't know this. It is possible that *for them* they had to do something very different in order to change. Maybe they *have* put it all down (the things from the past) and they are making an effort to be more peaceful, kinder - and the only way *they* could do this - was to make the decision they did.
Maybe - *for them* this was the only way to put down the anger/the need for revenge?
I'm not speaking for them - or even for *one* of them - I'm just reflecting that even things that look like defeat - or dishonor - from the outside - can be something else. How can we know? We don't even know what was said - perhaps the things they said only took responsibility for what they have done.
I know this is the point. And I'm not saying this is what happened. Just - how do we know? What value is there in judging what we don't know?
I'm asking if there is *benefit for you* - and I'm asking sincerely - out of respect.
You know, I think that I am an honorable person. I try everyday to do something that I can for someone else. I'm not wealthy - and I don't always have time to spare (I'm busy ;-). But every day I try to do something that helps. Even if it's just a very small thing.
This is honorable. To some people, it's a small life. But to me - my life is trying to help people. And that's good.
On the one hand, I feel like you have had a very difficult road - one that continues. I know that you have chosen to make the best of it (studying math, doing art).
I don't know how people survive in those SHU's without losing it. All the strength - and even all those codes you learned from the past - well, I'll bet they help. Without all of that - it would be harder.
I have a great deal of respect for you - I mean that sincerely. And please keep in mind that I do NOT support the process in California. I also very much believe in change and I hope that the policy of debriefing changes.
But here's the point that I also want to make. I think there is also strength in putting it down. You write that you looked at those men who were now in PC and you thought they had no honor. (That's what you meant?)