things worse. As the preacher said,
"Oh Lord! If you can't help me, for goodness sake don't help that
bear!" Maybe, without intending to do so, prisoners are helping the
bear. If the prisoners can't do anything to improve their situation,
then maybe they can avoid doing things that will make it worse. Consider
this. Maybe if there weren't so many prisoners hurting or killing
each other, then it might be more difficult for the prison authorities
to get away with the kinds of things that they keep doing.
Maybe a little détente among the prison factions and gangs might
be useful to the prisoners. Peace, not as a goal but as a strategy
— what a wild idea.
—editor
Greetings Sam:
I
just received the September Frontiersman. Thank you for keeping me
on your mailing list after all these years & contributing to my sanity.
I
am writing in response to one of the recent "letters
to editor". Specifically, the gentleman in the level-4 pilot
program. Most of what he says hit home and I applaud his resilience,
especially after serving 23 years, already. I'd like to suggest that
— perhaps — the way he has been doing things is not working and maybe it
is time to think outside the box. I'll share a condensed version
of my story.
I
came to CDCR, on my 2nd term, in 2007 and was sent to a newer ISO about
ten miles south of his location. I was handed a 15 to life sentence.
At first I was pissed off, getting myself into the mix and all that entails
(he knows what I mean). After two years of madness, I had an epiphany
while in AD-SEG. If I ever wanted to share life with my children,
feel the embrace of a woman, walk freely in society, experience freedom,
I needed to come up with a better plan and put it into action. I
needed to "rehabilitate".
At
the same prison, I went SNY, and they rolled me over to "C" yard.
I felt like a total piece of shit traitor, but my kids & family were
more important. I bucked the system at first, earning a few RVR's.
Eventually I enrolled in groups & my thinking started to change.
Sorry to say — I bowed down to the system. At UCC I convinced a captain
that, regardless of my C-file, I desired change and asked for a program
yard. Over the years I went from Delano to Ione to Soledad to Chowchilla,
where I am now, a level 2.
This
is a program yard on steroids. There are 40-something ILTAG's here,
as well as OMCP and many VOC's. If a person wishes to reduce his
time, come here. They are integrating mainline's here. I see
them get off the bus, weekly, chips on their shoulder, filled with piss
& vinegar. They either put up or shut up. Most find they
like it here, in a place originally built for women. We have 8-man
pods, private shower & toilet, 120 channels and most cops are laid
back. When was the last time you [that other prisoner] took
a crap & your cellie's face was not two feet away? Seriously
... when? Or, took 3 private showers, daily?
My
point in this soliloquy is to suggest a change in thinking. The CDCR
will not "rehabilitate" you; you need to take the initiative.
They provide the tools, but you must use them.
For
two years I have watched my peers go to board & get dates. Three
months ago I went and was found suitable. Yesterday I learned that
my official release date will allow me to attend my daughter's college
graduation, in 2019. For eleven years I have kept my eye on the prize
(family & freedom) even when that meant being a lame, sometimes.
My
advice: kiss some ass, ride some leg, do what it takes to get to
a program yard, especially this one. Alter your thinking, embrace
change and persevere. If you do nothing, THEY win and you
rot in this place. I took another man's life and will be a free man
soon. I know 20 to 30 lifers who have gotten dates in the last year.
You can, too, or you can do nothing while bitching about the injustice.
God
bless you,
—Sticky of San Diego
A prisoner soon to be free
I
just re-read your Sep. 2018 Frontiersman. I agree with you, I don't
know if your writings have made things any better [Some
Good Ideas, page 1]. And then again, how could they.
The internet is wonderful and awful at the same time. The wonderful
is the ability to reach millions with your intelligent writings, the awful
is it seems people only care about the social aspect of the web.
People are even more cattle like now. God forbid they have
a voice of their own. They might be considered an outcast, a conspiracy
theorist. And I don't mean to be a negative Nelly but where I watch
what's happening in the world, not just through local, national, and world
news, but more importantly, I get a feel of the pulse by paying attention
to what's on prime time T.V., commercials, and programs. And brother,
is the U.S. people more screwed up than ever.
Our
nation is going to [turning into] shit right before our eyes and
nothing is being done about it....
Have
a good day.
Sincerely,
—a prisoner, Soledad, California
October 2018 |
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