Johnny E. Mahaffey, The Novelist Portent
November 7, 2013

Reply ID: NAAG

I just wanted to take a moment and thank all the people of Between the Bars, all of you -- what you do does help. Though, some may disagree with your work, you must keep in mind that such people -- while entitled to their opinions -- are not very good humans. Empathy is something of virtue that many people lack, and is apparent in everyday prison life as humans imprison humans for political and financial gain, and some, for even less virtuous reason... revenge under the religious guise of, "an eye for an eye". Hurt for hurt, blood for blood; and the old tooth for tooth. Ignorance. Plain and simple.

Many organizations, like Between the Bars, must put up with such sad individuals and will most likely always have to. Such individuals will always exist. They go to church on Sunday, and pray to God for vengeance, pain, and even death of their "enemy". It's all horribly amusing in a sick way, that as they attempt to inflict "punishment", they ensure their own damnation under their own dogmatic regime. But -- at least I forgive them; and that's all that counts. They can wish what they will, and even cast their little conjurations via their chosen pew of acceptance; their perceptuo-motor of self-service, if you will. I forgive them, and it's because of groups like Between the Bars that I can share that forgiveness with the world.

The legal dogs may draw out what perambulations they will, but those boundaries are always subject to human rights; and it is my right to be heard out for the rest of my fifty or so more years of life, if not more. As is with all humans, silence is only optional to those with nothing to say.

My own ostentation is a direct result of those that wish me harm -- and for that, I thank them.