This was an incredible and very touching read, i felt honoured to be transcribing for you. You are clearly a very intelligent man, with a great knowledge of life. Edwards story is a very sad but i'm sure extremely common one ,all over the world.. people need to recognise change and allow it to grow rather than stamp all over it before it has a chance to blossom.
Wow. Thank you so much for writing this incredibly powerful and eloquent peice. You and the people you speak of in this blog are truly an inspiration and a chastisement to many of us outside prison walls.
"They think a murderer's heart would taint Each simple seed they sow. It is not true! God's kindly earth Is kindlier than men know, And the red rose would but blow more red, The white rose whiter blow.
Out of his mouth a red, red rose! Out of his heart a white! For who can say by what strange way, Christ brings his will to light, Since the barren staff the pilgrim bore Bloomed in the great Pope's sight?
But neither milk-white rose nor red May bloom in prison air; The shard, the pebble, and the flint, Are what they give us there: For flowers have been known to heal A common man's despair."
I disagree that you have met smart people. If they were that smart they would have used their intelligence towards a productive, contributing life. Instead they are locked up and even more culpable than the less educated, more disadvantaged.
The murder rate in Chicago is a national disgrace. 508 persons lost their lives in 2012. As a general rule victims of shooting who survive are roughly 4 to 1 so another 2000 were also victims. That is almost 7 every day. This in a city with the most draconian gun control laws in America. The low rate of solving these crimes is a direct result of mentality of street law and no cooperation with law enforcement. Whilst thugs with guns feel they can get away with murder and have no respect for life they will not stop.
Wow, thanks for such an interesting and unusual post here on BTB! British industrial history is a really fascinating topic, due to the fast amount of changes not just of technology but in voting, welfare and public health. It's sad that 'Luddite' has now become a word for someone who is irrationally afraid of technology, when the reality is so much more complex.
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts; I agree with what you say. Short term solutions are easier, but will lead to greater problems in the future.
I think money is at the root of many of these problems - a rich man who commits a crime is a businessman, not a criminal! Education is part of it as well - people need education to get themselves out of poverty and having opportunities other than crime and other bad life choices. But good education needs money also.
Hey, Rob I just finished reading your comments. It seems I always have to respond immediately, because I am a great procrastinator (fancy term for lazy ass)and if I don't do something right away, I usually never do. As usual, great insights into the prison world around you. But don't think two guys wanting to kill each other over a football game is limited to Huntingdon...I saw something similar in Upper Darby a few weeks ago! It was interesting reading about your youth. It made me curious, so I googled an article that mentioned your upbringing. It certainly was an eye-opener, and it's hard to connect the guy they describe in the article with the articulate, thoughtful guy whose blogs I'm reading. But as you say, time (and experience) can change a lot. One thing puzzled me, but I hesitate to bring it up, because it's none of my business. So if I'm out of line, don't hesitate to tell me to STFU. You expressed incredible grief over the death of Justine (who I believe was your girlfriend at the time you went to jail and the mother of your daughter?). It's obvious that you've spent a lot of time regretting how things went during your relationship, and your sadness comes through in a pretty heartbreaking manner. But (and forgive me if I'm crossing a line here) I've never heard you mention remorse in the crime that put you in prison. The crime was pretty horrific, so I guess it's always the elephant in the room. Does an inmate have to "compartmentalize" parts of his life, or it would be too overwhelming? Even years later, I think I would be at a loss as to how to deal with the memories. Probably none of my business, but I think you seem to like honesty, and I'd be less than honest if I didn't ask the question. Anyway, the dog is giving me "that look" again, so it's time to ruin my lawn. Have a good week, Rob, and I look forward to your comments about the juvenile court judges. I remember that story in the papers well. Take care, Bill
RSS
You are clearly a very intelligent man, with a great knowledge of life.
Edwards story is a very sad but i'm sure extremely common one ,all over the world.. people need to recognise change and allow it to grow rather than stamp all over it before it has a chance to blossom.
Wow. Thank you so much for writing this incredibly powerful and eloquent peice. You and the people you speak of in this blog are truly an inspiration and a chastisement to many of us outside prison walls.
"They think a murderer's heart would taint
Each simple seed they sow.
It is not true! God's kindly earth
Is kindlier than men know,
And the red rose would but blow more red,
The white rose whiter blow.
Out of his mouth a red, red rose!
Out of his heart a white!
For who can say by what strange way,
Christ brings his will to light,
Since the barren staff the pilgrim bore
Bloomed in the great Pope's sight?
But neither milk-white rose nor red
May bloom in prison air;
The shard, the pebble, and the flint,
Are what they give us there:
For flowers have been known to heal
A common man's despair."
Very noble pledge, and nice to share your promises to your self and to others...
Take care
I couldn't understand you last initials or the surname to the writer you had not read.. Sorry about that.
I'm glad you have a friend to support you and to communicate with.
The murder rate in Chicago is a national disgrace. 508 persons lost their lives in 2012. As a general rule victims of shooting who survive are roughly 4 to 1 so another 2000 were also victims. That is almost 7 every day. This in a city with the most draconian gun control laws in America. The low rate of solving these crimes is a direct result of mentality of street law and no cooperation with law enforcement. Whilst thugs with guns feel they can get away with murder and have no respect for life they will not stop.
Wow, thanks for such an interesting and unusual post here on BTB! British industrial history is a really fascinating topic, due to the fast amount of changes not just of technology but in voting, welfare and public health. It's sad that 'Luddite' has now become a word for someone who is irrationally afraid of technology, when the reality is so much more complex.
Elizabeth-Anne
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts; I agree with what you say. Short term solutions are easier, but will lead to greater problems in the future.
I think money is at the root of many of these problems - a rich man who commits a crime is a businessman, not a criminal! Education is part of it as well - people need education to get themselves out of poverty and having opportunities other than crime and other bad life choices. But good education needs money also.
Elizabeth-Anne
I just finished reading your comments. It seems I always have to respond immediately, because I am a great procrastinator (fancy term for lazy ass)and if I don't do something right away, I usually never do.
As usual, great insights into the prison world around you. But don't think two guys wanting to kill each other over a football game is limited to Huntingdon...I saw something similar in Upper Darby a few weeks ago!
It was interesting reading about your youth. It made me curious, so I googled an article that mentioned your upbringing. It certainly was an eye-opener, and it's hard to connect the guy they describe in the article with the articulate, thoughtful guy whose blogs I'm reading. But as you say, time (and experience) can change a lot.
One thing puzzled me, but I hesitate to bring it up, because it's none of my business. So if I'm out of line, don't hesitate to tell me to STFU. You expressed incredible grief over the death of Justine (who I believe was your girlfriend at the time you went to jail and the mother of your daughter?). It's obvious that you've spent a lot of time regretting how things went during your relationship, and your sadness comes through in a pretty heartbreaking manner. But (and forgive me if I'm crossing a line here) I've never heard you mention remorse in the crime that put you in prison. The crime was pretty horrific, so I guess it's always the elephant in the room.
Does an inmate have to "compartmentalize" parts of his life, or it would be too overwhelming? Even years later, I think I would be at a loss as to how to deal with the memories. Probably none of my business, but I think you seem to like honesty, and I'd be less than honest if I didn't ask the question.
Anyway, the dog is giving me "that look" again, so it's time to ruin my lawn. Have a good week, Rob, and I look forward to your comments about the juvenile court judges. I remember that story in the papers well.
Take care, Bill