THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING,
SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS LIKE,
BETWEEN THE BARS

Marteze Harris #161543
Waupun Correctional Institution
Post Office Box 351
Waupun, Wisconsin 53963

Saturday, May 11th, 2013

Dear Between the Bars Funders:

My Name is Marteze, and I have been blogging at Between the Bars, since the beginning.
And, before, Between the Bars, I knew absolutely nothing, about blogging-nor how to
vent the anger and frustration I felf from my 18 years of incarceration.

I had no voice, no outlet, no way to vent, yet, I had all this anger, hurt and pain
deep within me, with no way to release it; accept, thru aggression. I am not saying
that Between the Bars, stopped all my bad behavior(s), but once I had a way to talk
about the things that I needed too, and have my voice heard, it made a big difference
in how I view myself, my situation and society as a whole. When you can write what's
happening to you, and even though you may not know the person reading your blog, you
know that somebody hears you. And on those sweet rare occasions when you get
comments, about something you wrote from somebody out there in the free world, you
feel like, "I AM NOT ALONE...SOMEBODY HEARS ME...AND MAY BE I CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE
PART OF THIS SOCIETY ONEDAY." That feels really, really good.

And I am not aperfessional writer, as you can tell. My writing style (If you can even
call it that!:) is fundamental colloquialism. I hated english in school and I am
horrible at all that english entails. I write (type) to fast and I have a devils may
care attitude when it comes to my many mistakes-it's like if i catch them in time, and
the mistake is not to severe-and my point is made and understandable, then no harm no
foul. But man, when I write my blogs, and I can express whatever, it is that's on my
mind I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel free and alive!!!!!
Because these walls no longer define who I am, and what I can say-that feeling alone
is undescribable.

So to all the potential funders, and viewers of this website, please, keep funding
sites and programs like Between the Bars. Not just for us, but for you as well, so
that you can have a look into the minds of those incarcerated in these prison cells.

Because most of us, okay, some of us are redeemable. In order to end recidivism the
help for those incarcerated starts right now. Not once we're on the streets, let us
know that we're worthy of your love, care, kindness and support. And for the most
part that is what our blogs are for, to let you see us, hear us and know that not
all of us are "so-called" animals, that need to be locked away and have the keys
thrown away.

So if you have been funding programs such as this one, please don't stop. If you are
thinking about funding programs such as this one, please do, because "WE" the
incarcerated do appreciate it. And, if you are just a viewer of sites like this, please,
consider becoming a sponsor. Your help and support is greatly needed, wanted and
desired.

Sincerely,

Teze