Blog 4HR

Thoughts from the Heart
By: Joseph Smith
2012 November 22
1900 HRS

One of Michelle Obama's favorite points is that for too long we have been manipulated by the fear that have been imposed on us about almost everything. "Be Not Afraid" are watch words that rise through her speeches and seem to challenge us in our daily affairs. Some of my personal sufferings over the last few months have also served to shape my thinking of "Be Not Afraid" as a prisoner housed in a state owned but privately operated prison that violates the civil, constitutional and human rights of those housed here on a daily basis, I've taken this message of "Be Not Afraid" to heart. Some of my personal experiences, the writer hesitate to mention, these experience for fear of conveying the wrong impression. But I feel somewhat justified in writing about them today. Injustice any where is a blow to justice everywhere. Due to the writer use of the Inmate Grievance System to complain about equal treatment of prisoners, in housing, job assignments, punishment, and overall prison life. The writer has/and still is, being denied adequate medical care and treatment. The writer is a diabetic and suffers from the eye disease glaucoma - The eye drops needed. To date, of the posting of this blog, the writer is still being denied said treatment. A day seldom passes that the writer is not the recipient of racial remarks from the staff. I must admit that at times I have felt that I could no longer bear such a heavy burden and have been tempted to retreat to a more quiet serene life but everytime such a temptation appeared the words "Be Not Afraid" came to strengthen and sustain my determination. In our prisons today a mighty struggle is taking place. It is a struggle to conquer the reign of an evil monster called racism and its inseparable twin called discrimination, a monster that has for too long stripped people of color of their sense of dignity and robbing them of their birthright of equality. The writer will never succumb to the temptation of believing that legislation and judicial decrees play only minor roles in solving the injustices within the prison system. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial Decrees may not change the heart but they can restrain the heartless. The law cannot make a racist prison guard respect me as a person but it can prevent him/her from spraying me with pepper spray and hitting me with their baton due to the color of my skin. "Be Not Afraid" has become my inner calm in the midst of outer dangers. When the chains of fear and the manacles of frustration have all but stymied my efforts, I have felt the power of those words ("Be Not Afraid") transforming the fatigue of despair into the buoyancy of hope, rather then bitterness, rather then hate, rather then being like them. These words of "Be Not Afraid" has taught me to press on for justice, but to move with dignity and discipline and to be sure that the means the writer employ are as pure as the ends one seek. "Be Not Afraid" have given me the strength to stand unflinchingly before threats and intimidation, inconvenience and unpopularity. "Be Not Afraid" I employ those who read this blog. Keep standing up for those who can't speak for themselves.

(Signature of Joseph Smith)
2012-Nov-22
Joseph Smith DRC # 211195
North Central Corr. Inst.
PO Box 1812
Marion, Ohio 43301-1812