Reply ID: r78e

July 27, 2016, 8:00 PM, listening to Against All Odds by Phil Collins

Dear Ashke,

Hi, how are you? I hope good. I got your comments today. Thank you. I always look forward to hearing from new people.

First I say, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for praying for my mom. My mom is such a good woman; she does not deserve this. I would gladly die for her. Anything that would take away her cancer & give her a life she deserves. You get 1 mom & I haven't had enough time with mine. Anyone who has lost their mom understands this.

I have no idea when you wrote all these posts. That is not something that I'm told. So if I am late getting back to you, I apologize. I got a few from you today.

I got to see my mom & brother on May 29 for 1 hour. Mom was not feeling good & the guards turned off the A/C units in the visiting room. They do this in the summer, so it's so hot that visitors will want to leave. And when they leave, the guards get to sit out there & do absolutely nothing for the rest of their shift. They are very ignorant to our visitors here. My mom is on a permanent oxygen tank, sweat dripping off her face, struggling to breathe & I asked the guard to turn the A/C back on; he told me to f--- off. Problem is, if you write an official complaint & when they investigate, if the guard denies it & says you lied, they lock you up for lying. So even if you are telling the truth, it is your word against theirs & all prisoners are labeled liars.

Who are you? I don't recognize the name Ashke. Did you write to me under another name before? You said you asked questions, but I honestly don't remember your name.

You said prison needs to be about rehabilitation, but it's not. It's about money. Go on the PA D.O.C. website. Look at the commissary prices. Some of the stuff is really good prices. But not for people who get paid 19¢ an hour. Some of the bigger guys, they have to pay $12+ for a simple plain T-shirt that is made by prisoners. Who pays $300+ for a typewriter? No one but prisoners. Who pays $265 for a 19" TV? Only prisoners. & the TV is made by prisoners. Who pays $160 for an MP3 player? Only prisoners. They know a lot of prisoners have family members & friends who are wiling to take care of them in here, so they price gouge us.

I don't like that you had "friends" murdered. That means more than 1 & I'm sorry to read this. Where are you from?

My crime was not committed out of hate, greed, anger; it was more fear. I was mad, but I was more afraid than mad. It happened so fast. People think it goes on for a while, but it was literally under a minute, I guess.

You said you are not in good health. Would you care to elaborate?

Does anyone realize how many men & women are serving life with no parole & they didn't even kill anyone? I know a few guys who were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, & the actual killer was given a deal to testify against the other & the actual killer is free now & the guy who was with him, he is here. One has been here 37 years. Didn't even take a life. Was the driver of the car. The gunman testified against him & got 10-20 years. Even though they have life, not all took a life.

I'm sorry, but I have to get going. I enjoyed your comments & I look forward to hearing from you again. Take care & thank you. God bless, ciao.

PS: I'm glad I apologized to some of the deserving people that I could find. It was a weight on my conscience.