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Post by CCADP on Apr 16, 2005 19:35:05 GMT -5
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Nubia
Settlin' In
Posts: 14
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Post by Nubia on Apr 17, 2005 10:07:28 GMT -5
Hi! My friend on death row in Texas got killed last year, but now I'm better and writting to another inmate. But I always have to deal with the question of guilt. For me it has never been a matter of guilt or not, more the fact that capital punishment is just WRONG! Frankly I don't care if the person I'm writing to is gulity or not, that is not the matter for me. Now I have a new friend as I said, and he wants me to take a stand on the question of guilt, since he asked me to pass around a interview in which he claims his innocence. Is it just me, or are there others to whom guilt is not a matter? And I mean I have no way of knowing if the guy is telling the truth or not! Furthermore I'm from outside the USA, so I don't really know the legalsystem and I can't find info on the internet. Others with the same experience? Or anyone with a good advice? Greetings, Nubia
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Post by ennjay2007 on Apr 18, 2005 10:46:15 GMT -5
Nubia, It doesnt matter if a person is guilty. People CAN change. There are also many times that a crime is not premeditated, and we have to look at the circumstances. However, I feel it is not our place to judge anyone. We are all human. If God can forgive and forget then who are we not to do the same? My brother is on the Row at San Quentin. He is the sweetest, most gentle person you would ever want to meet, but because he defended himself and someone was killed, he has been given the death penalty. It makes me ill when people judge him because I know the truth. Stay with the convictions of your heart. You will do just fine. ennjay2007TEXT
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Post by CCADP on Apr 18, 2005 10:55:55 GMT -5
If you want to send out his innocence info; you can do it without taking a personal stand on it!
Just let people know this prisoner has asked you to send this and its his words.
feel free to send it to us for posting on a webpage and feel free to post it under indiv. death row cases section on this board
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Nubia
Settlin' In
Posts: 14
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Post by Nubia on Apr 18, 2005 13:51:33 GMT -5
eenjay2007: I know it doesn't matter and I'm a great believer of second chances! When you've done the time for the crime you committed, you should get a second chance. I also believe people can change, as long as you believe in the best in them. The reason for me not wanting to take a personal stand is that I have no basis to do so. Further more, nobody gives a d**n in my country! We have a pro- Bush goverment, so nobody asks questions! But even before Bush nobody did. I'm european and we don't ask the american goverment critical questions about ANYTHING! Its been like that since the Second World War. And quite frankly I'm sick of it! eenjay2007, I will follow my heart as I have always done. I hope your brother will prove his innocence before it's too late. CCADP: I will ask my friend if I can post info from him. Greetings, Nubia
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Turid
New Arrival
Posts: 3
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Post by Turid on Apr 20, 2005 10:24:10 GMT -5
Hi! My friend on death row in Texas got killed last year, but now I'm better and writting to another inmate. But I always have to deal with the question of guilt. Hi Nubia! I'm glad to hear you feel better! When you say you always have to deal with the question of guilt, do you mean that those you've been in touch with all claims to be innocent? I'm in no position to "give advise" as I'm no more of an expert in this than anyone else, but I've been involved with the same a couple of times. As you say: There is no way we can know whether or not a prisoner is innocent of guilty. However, as a friend, my choice is to listen to what my friends tell me. I believe it's a myth that "everyone on death row is quilty". Also, a person may be "guilty", but not necessarily in capital murder. The circumstances in every case are after all different. My bet is that there are MANY on every death row who may be guilty in "something", but not capital murder. I'd also like to say that as a friend of a death row prisoner, my "job" is to listen what he / say says, and in the cases a friend of mine wants me to do certain things to back up his / story, I will do the little I can to do so. I live in Norway and what I can do from here is very limited, but there are still things I can to provide some of the things my friends want me to. There are webpages out here that give the prisoners a way to come out with their story. CCADP does. I cannot find any reason why a person who is incarcerated shouldn't get an opportunity to give his / her story. Let your friend speak, and listen. As a penpal and a friend, that is what we should do. (My own opinion). Agreed! As I said: It's difficult for you to take a stand on whether or not your friend is guilty. You weren't there when it happened. The best thing you can do is to believe what he says or not believe it. If I were you, I would still pass around this interview, and let people make up their own minds. It is perhaps a very good idea to ask what his lawyer has to say before you do? No. You don't have any way of knowing that for sure. None of us have. It's indeed difficult. Understanding the legal system in the US of A isn't the easiest thing you do either. Do you have access to any of his legal papers? If you don't you could possibly get some impression if you read through his court papers, appeals, etc. That has helped me a lot. I have the same experience as you have. To give advise is not easy. Let along giving "good" advises. Reading through the legal papers will most definitely help you though. If you are able to get ahold of any of them. There might be some information on the internet available if you know where to look. Perhaps I can help you, but if you want me to, I might be able to help you with some papers if you contact me via email. Good Luck! Greetings, Turid
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Turid
New Arrival
Posts: 3
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Post by Turid on May 4, 2005 14:19:01 GMT -5
That is so true. An awkward thought! Indeed! Which of course raises the next question: How much safer did the world we live in actually become because they killed a person in Texas yesterday evening?
Is it safer out in the society now?
I think not.
Turid
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Post by CCADP on May 16, 2005 9:31:50 GMT -5
Note - I removed 4 or 5 posts in this thread : by CCADP (me); Truth; and Turid where Truth had brought up his / her support for the death penalty because inmates have done bad things; and Turid and I were responding.
I removed those not to censor the conversation - it was a shame actually because the responses were good - but to keep this thread from veering away from a very specific purpose. This particular thread is only for People Who Write Prisoners (to) Share Their Stories
So lets all keep all other conversation off this thread....
Penpals to death row prisoners - please feel free to add your comments and stories here.; so people viewing the page and considering writing to prisoners can have an understanding of why we do this; and can have the benefit of everyone's experiences in writing to DR prisoners.
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Post by ukfoto on May 16, 2005 10:56:20 GMT -5
Hi, I have been a pen pal for a very short time about 6 weeks. I think this is one of the most re-warding things I've ever done in my life ! Not only is my pen pal so grateful and pleased for my letters, which makes me feel so very humble but its made me realise just how lucky i am even on the days when i think my luck stinks. Im now so much more aware of the every day basic things I was taking for granted !! I would tell anyone thinking about it to GO FOR IT !! Ukfoto
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Post by jojo29 on May 16, 2005 14:08:01 GMT -5
Bobby and I started out as pen pals and now we are getting married (if we can ever figure out how the whole proxy issue works and what needs to be done).
I have to say I am the last person you would have thought would have written to a guy on the row let alone marry one. What I have to say is this, if you are thinking about it there is a reason for it. Go with your gut and give it a shot.
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Post by CCADP on May 16, 2005 16:08:17 GMT -5
Visit the media requests section everyone....
20/20 will be posting there shortly with a request to speak to penpals of D.R prisoners who have ended up in romantic relationships /marrying.
Media often has questions about people who are writing to prisoners for whatever reason; so please visit that area every once in awhile!
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Post by chiara on Jul 8, 2005 9:14:02 GMT -5
hi all...
i'm new to this site, and this is my first post... so here goes!
i can't believe it's taken me this long to join a forum like this one, considering i have been writing to a texas DR inmate since i was 16 (i'm 22 now). i can't believe its been this long already! i was still in school when i first met gabriel, through an amnesty international pen pal letter... now i have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and another child on the way, and gabriel has lived through all the growing up that i've done in the past 6 years. we're currently working on a creative project together, and as i am an artist i have donated my work to try to raise funds for his legal defence. i would strongly urge anyone who may be considering apen pal to give it a go, it will be one of the most rewarding things you may do with your life. i think for me especially, living in a country where the death penalty no longer exists, it has been a huge eye opener, and wonderful for me to be able to educate my friends and family on the atrocities that happen in polunsky unit texas.
my hope is to one day be able to afford to go to texas to meet gabriel... maybe i will be able to meet some people on this site who can help me out once i get over there..? who knows.
thanks for reading my story... feel free to email me!
cheers,
claire
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Post by ela on Jul 8, 2005 9:17:57 GMT -5
chiara! Italian name! sei italiana?
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Post by CCADP on Jul 8, 2005 9:21:05 GMT -5
welcome!
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Post by janet on Jul 27, 2005 15:42:14 GMT -5
Claire, welcome and one day, as I have, you may well get to personally visit your penpal. You can count on each of us to lend you a hand once you do get over there. Believe me, the light and joy on your friend's face when you do shall be with you forever.
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