Dymitri Harszewski
Blog 1660

9-8-24

Comment Reply (Jenny)
Reply ID: 7rt9

Hello, Jonny/Jazzy

Those are both your screen-names, right? I hope so, cuz I'm replying to them together. Your comment on "A Peek Behind the Curtain of Public Safety Theatre" was pretty nasty, but the later one to "Presumption of Whiteness" was a lot mellower; almost cordial, even. Why the shift? Also, was that your comment that got deleted under "Why Would an Anarchist Care About Politics?" I hate when comments get removed before I even had a chance to see them, but I know BTB readers are just looking out for me. I'll probably do another post on that issue. Anyway, if it was yours, please let me know, ok? Thanks.

So hey, I appreciate the semi-conciliatory tone of your last comment, but I'm surprised you still think I'm thirsty for your approval or anyone else's. It's obvious that we have almost as much in common as we have in opposition... I know you're also an ex-prisoner, and one who did some acting up (which I applaud - High Five! :) ). But I really don't understand the ass-kissy love affair with parole board prices and another arrogant, judgemental dinks who presume to know the truth of others' lives and their worthiness to exist in society. They're scum, and not just scum, but the worst sort... self-righteous and mostly very stupid. Do you really disagree with that assessment?

I also like that we both call pigs pigs, but what else could we call them? There's truth-in-advertising laws, right? Lol. Anyway, we part ways when you extend your otherwise admirable shit-stirring beyond cops and toward "undesirable inmates". That's bizarre, to me. What inmate is "undesirable" besides jailhouse thieves, rats, and the shitbags who identify and collaborate with pigs for some pitiful ego trip and fake "privileges". But I thought you go beyond those categories, right? Like to trannies and queers? Maybe other races*? And for sure to ME, because no matter who I really am or how much I support YOU in a spirit of prisoner solidarity, you'd still hold me in contempt along with any others who have the "wrong kinds" of charges, true? But WTF... we're all in the same boat, so I don't understand why some inmates want to row in different directions, or worse, stop rowing completely and just hit their fellow captives over the head with their oars. Makes no sense, except for our piggy masters who sit back and enjoy the show as their puppet-prisoners attack each other instead of the system that confines and abuses them.

Hey, would you be surprised to hear that you often remind me of one of my best friends? I think you share some views, attitudes, and even the way you express yourselves. He's doing life in another state for murder and attempted escape (broke out of a van when the cops stopped for food - heroic shit, IMO!). He's also into the prison politics crap, some white supremacy even. Not my values, we disagree on a lot, but we met when we were young, in the real world, so he's my dog for life, regardless. He's changed, but you don't abandon old friends, IMO. He's also the main reason I'm even in prison now, but that's a complicated and very personal story.

You wrote that I complain and "whine", but you also say I have a right to complain if I'm truly innocent. How does innocence matter? Everyone in a cage has a right to complain, IMO, just like you did by "pressin' paper". Doesn't that mean filing grievances, lawsuits, etc? I have a trail of so-called "misconduct" write ups myself, plus some lawsuits and dozens of grievances. I don't call you a "whiner", and neither am I... prisoners have a moral obligation to reject and resist this fucked up power structure any way we can, and who cares who's so-called "guilty" or "innocent"? Personally, I couldn't give less of a shit what some asshole judge or prostitutor, or even 12 manipulated jurors, think about anything. I'm an anarchist and prison abolitionist to the core, so that's where a lot of my "whining" comes from: I want to send a message to all who think prisoners should just "shut up and do their time". Fuck that, and fuck them for saying it. Fight the system at every step and in every way. I think you & I have some common ground there, no? FTP/ACAB.

Another area we may have some similarity is... you said "if you're gonna restore yourself, you gotta get your convictions tossed, or ppl like me will be on your ass." Hmm. OK. So, of course I want the convictions gone, but I also know how this shit works. I'm not giving up and neither are the ppl behind me, but I have NO faith in the wisdom or decency of judges; I've seen too much to stay that naïve. And, you gotta know, I really D.G.A.F. who's "on my ass" or what you think of me... but I think you understand that, right? I mean, do you give a shit what I think of you? Probably not; why would you? So you must get how I feel, too. I don't need anyone's blessings or "restoration". I'm good, bro. I know who I am; no one else's opinion can change reality. I'm accountable to the folks who are part of my real life, but that's it. Fuck the system and any rando haters, too. If that's not enough to get someone's respect or appreciation, oh well, you know? Life goes on. No harm, no fool. I'm not saying this out of hostility to you, but just trying to help you see where I'm coming from. Not insecure, not begging for anyone's approval, and you're not either, right? Good... so maybe we're more on the same page than it seems.

In the end, you complain about my complaining, but J, believe this: I do what I can to make a difference, as best I know how. If not for myself, then to help others not suffer the way I have and how those I care about have. If not for myself, then to help others not suffer the way I have and how those I care about have. This blog is just a small part of that effort. At this point, that's probably the best I can do with this life. We'll see.

Take care, big dog.

Dymitri

*Incidentally, I still don't believe in the idea of "race", and normally wouldn't use the word, but in some very rare cases, like now, its convenient is almost indispensable.