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Post by ex member on Apr 24, 2005 9:43:09 GMT -5
Yesterday I received a letter from Lonnie. While writing to me he excused himself for a bit because dinner was served and he wanted to eat. He came back and said "I'm back sweetbaby, we had pancakes, grits with butter and apricots. Nothing too special but I'm sure there are folks out there who would love a meal like this, don't you think?"
This was dinner. not breakfast. And he was thankful he had food to eat. He never complains.
Why does Polunsky feed them so poorly. These are grown men. It doesn't seem right to me. I can only pray for these people who run the unit. One day they will have to answer to a higher power.
Pam
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butterfly
Doin' Time
"When you judge people you have no time to love them. Mother Theresa"
Posts: 94
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Post by butterfly on Apr 24, 2005 11:29:16 GMT -5
Yes, it is very sad . Most of the men on death row never complain in their letters. They just want to protect us, i guess. Have you ever heard about something right on death row ? I don't think so. Unfortunately,TDCJ really does not care about them . And state wants to save money by any way. I really don't know how they can deal with such "life".Alone 23 hours a day in a tiny cell with no light, no sun an especially sensory deprivations. That is why, Help, support and mail are so important.
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Post by jojo29 on Apr 24, 2005 20:47:42 GMT -5
How can they feed them that? Because they don't care. It is sad. I can't get Bobby to say anything too negative, I think that has to do with the mail screening. Maybe they are afraid of retaliation, who knows.
And can you imagine having to get up at 3 am to eat breakfast! When I heard that part I was shocked.
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Nubia
Settlin' In
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Post by Nubia on Apr 27, 2005 5:42:22 GMT -5
I remember when my friend in Polunsky was still alive and he would tell me about the food they got. When on lock down he would tell that they had peanutbutter sandwishes and milk for days! But he wouldn't complain to much either, not about the food anyway Apperently there's nothing we can do, and maybe the people in charge see the lack of good food as a form of punishment too? Very sick! Nubia
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Post by Truth on Apr 29, 2005 10:24:09 GMT -5
Please explain to me why society should care that prisoners have to eat cold food every day! These people are violent murderers. They took the lives of people who did not deserve to die. It is really easy for Canadians to say they should live comfortably--they are not paying for it. Some prisons in Illinois cost $86,000 per inmate/year. If the evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt that someone is in fact guilty of capital murder, then that person should be executed. There is no such thing as rehabilitation--how can you rehabilitate someone that has never been "habilitated"? Keep in mind that the people you feel sorry for are the same people that have also been convicted of multiple felonies (sometimes as many as 20). They are a burden to society and they should be given the ultimate punishment.
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Post by CCADP on Apr 29, 2005 10:33:40 GMT -5
same old, same old.
1) an economic argument holds no weight when we are talking about human lives. If your argument is that its cheaper to kill someone than to keep them alive; and thats what convinces you; well; we don't decide life based on money.
2) the vast majority of people on this board are in the US and are US taxpayers. The org was just started in Canada, we have lots of US members...
welcome to the board; you can post here as long as you remain respectful of those on the board with loved ones on death row.
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Post by Truth on Apr 29, 2005 11:11:10 GMT -5
I was not trying to be disrespectful, I was being honest. The economic argument was two-fold. First, the people guilty (not just determined to be guilty in court--but actually are guilty) have taken a contributing member of society away. If that was not bad enough, we have to pay 19K-86K a year to house them? At the same time 300 teachers just lost their jobs in Cook County because of lack of funding. I think that is a terrible misappropriation of funds. As far as the "same old, same old" comment goes: do not take offense at my point of view. I do have sympathy for the family members of people who commit such atrocious crimes. However, think about this: how would you like to explain to the family members of the victim how "sad" it is that the person who killed their relative has to eat cold food?
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Post by CCADP on Apr 29, 2005 11:17:21 GMT -5
Sorry Truth; I didn't mean that you were being disrespectful - you weren't! I just thought I'd put that in just to make sure that you were aware since there are family members here going through difficult times....
I don't necessarily think the cold food argument is convincing to most people. But you can understand if it was a loved one of yours that was there for life; you'd be concerned how they were fed. Its a little issue but when its all there is in your life it can loom large (not much to look forward to but food and mail).
I don't think by reading Pamees post you get an accurate view of the food either - its worse. Food loaf is a disgusting and obviousy purely punitive and humiliating idea. To get past the international rules about having to feed prisoners, when they are being punished in Texas and elsewhere they are put on food loaf - which means for no reason at all; all the days - could be peanut butter, potatoes, applesauce, tuna, etc all mushed together and baked and served in a block.
Sound good?
As you can imagine, a lot of people can't eat it. I know I couldn't. And so go without.
I think thats just ridiculous. I never heard of it in any other country. It may make good headlines for the tough on crime crowd but its unjustifiable.'
Tracy
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Post by CCADP on Apr 29, 2005 11:20:19 GMT -5
also; it doesn't take away from teachers or starving children to house these other members of society.
In fact; theres lots of expendable cash that could be put to better use....how much do you think the suit that Bush was wearing last night cost? His haircut? His flights to the ranch? corporate tax cuts? etc.
The fact is prisons are big business -- they MAKE money for communities, not cost money which is why depressed small towns clamor and fight for them; why phone companies make a 30 percent markup on calls from prisoners to loved ones; etc etc ; look into it. Read about. Its a BILLION DOLLA R industry in the US on the backs of your incarcerated (not just death row - low level drug crimes as well...)
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Post by damaris on Apr 29, 2005 12:18:07 GMT -5
I'm sorry Tracy but I think that Truth was being disrespectful because for one, this is a website that is against the death penalty. If you are a pro then you should go where the pros are. I'm not saying that you can't read or post anything but I was very offended because I have a man on deathrow. Comments like that are not needed on here. You should join the prodeathpenalty website for people who are for the death penalty. This website was designed to help these men and their families be able to go through this terrible situation. We don't need people posting negative comments like that because I know there are alot of people out there like me that have loved ones on deathrow who are trying hard to stay strong even though it's hard.
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Post by CCADP on Apr 29, 2005 12:25:08 GMT -5
Some pros just don't ever think that real people are affected - they think its just names in a newspaper; and spout stuff like this all the time. I just don't take it seriously so I don't get offended - I know its harder for a family member but I don't want to be accused of not letting people make their point. I thought I'd remind that there are loved ones here and to be respectful; then if there is further nasty comments; they'll be deleted. I guess on re-reading it; it is pretty disrespectful; but just the kind of thing we are used to hearing. They never have any good arguments.....cheaper to kill people! I guess we can make that argument about medical care too! or the poor!
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Post by Truth on Apr 29, 2005 13:08:59 GMT -5
Let me first begin by stating that my intention here was not to hurt anyone. My apologies to those who thought or think otherwise. I came across this board by accident. I guess people do tend to forget that the victims family are not the only ones hurt.
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Post by CCADP on Apr 29, 2005 13:11:47 GMT -5
thanks for that....its just that they don't have many places to feel safe and not judged....this is a place where they can talk to each other. thanks for your message. I'm sure it will be appreciated
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Post by damaris on Apr 29, 2005 13:24:53 GMT -5
Thank you truth. You are currect, the victims' families are suffering also. I don't want to foget that either. Thanks for clearing that up, I appreciate it.
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jj
New Arrival
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Post by jj on Apr 29, 2005 13:42:49 GMT -5
I don't know about other states, I only speak about Texas because I have personal experience there.
Since Texas decided they needed to do a budget cut and thought cutting back on calories to inmates, some guys on death row have acted up so they could get the food loaf because even though it is nasty, it has more calories than what they get every day. It's a survival instinct.
Also, for those that complain about the tax payers footing the bill for these guys.... a while back the inmates use to grow their own food, clean their own prisons, do their own laundry.. they were self sufficient. But, since the "lock 'em up and throw away the key" attitude, now the tax payers are paying. You can't have things both ways.
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