Does anyone else write to a Death Row prisoner here?

[Th1onein]

I write to a guy on Texas death row. I travel quite a bit, for my business, and one of the first things he asked me for, after I started writing to him was postcards, because he doesn't get to see any nature. So, I get him postcards anytime I'm in a new area. In the past year he's "seen" Belize, New Mexico, California, Texas, Mexico, Colorado, Playa Del Carmen, Oklahoma and Cozumel. He was a "Captain" in the Mexican Mafia and was allegedly responsible for ordering the death of at least four people. Now, he wishes that he had lived his life differently, but we all do stupid shit when we're young. It's a pity that anyone had to die, but it's more a pity that the death has to go on and on.

I know it's going to kill me when they kill him, but I just feel that it is important that he knows that there is someone human out here that cares, no matter how much it will hurt in the end.

Anyway, I'm not bragging about it. Just wondering if there are any others here who do this kind of thing.

[pitohui]

1. i'm a terrible human being

i don't even write or call the people i know when they're in prison or usually not when they're in hospital, i need to get over it, i always justify it to myself w. "well they prob. want to imagine that no one knows this happened" blah blah blah

you sound like a wonderful caring person

it's an area where i need to get out of my comfort zone a little more

not that i know any death row prisoners, it's more like, someone has been in and then they get out, and i just sort of pretend it never happened when we meet again unless they bring it up

[Haole Girl]

2. I sent an anonymous letter to one once (serving life)

I'll admit it, I was afraid to include my full name or return address. Not so much out of fear of him, specifically, but his fellow inmates. It's a case I saw on a tv talk show-- where a man was convicted and sentenced to life simply for being in a car, parked on the street, while another man committed a robbery. I think his name is John Mayo. Anyway, I felt so sorry for the guy- he looked like he wasn't going to be able to be strong enough, mentally, to make it through his sentence...and I am convinced he was charged primarily because of his race (call it a wild hunch). I never did keep up with what's going on with the case...I need to check into it, actually.

[Haole Girl]

3. Here is a link:

http://www.truthinjustice.org/mayo.htm

Actually, his name is William Jonathan Mayo

And, it's two life sentences. It's a very sad case.

[Patiod]

7. Wow. No racism involved there

Stories like that are just frightening. Something like that could happen to ANYONE who is non-white in this country.

Plus, the for those of us who in any way look to the Bible, it is pretty clear how we should treat prisoners.

From the Old Testament: Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.
Heb.13:3

Jesus (the same guy who never once mentioned homosexuality) is also pretty explicit in Matthew 25:34-40 about how we should treat prisoners:

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me’

[Skittles]

4. we all do stupid shit?

stupid shit is one thing, mass killing is another

[Floogeldy]

12. Whew!

:)

[REP]

5. Somehow, I Managed Not To Kill Anyone Or Order Their Deaths

Yes, we all do stupid shit, but being responsible for the deaths of at least four people is evil. Big difference.

[Th1onein]

10. So what?

I'm not passing judgement on this man. Judgement has already been passed. Does that mean that he also can not hear from another human being? That he cannot see postcards, showing the earth's beauty? I am not going to forsake this person because he did evil. We all do evil. He will pay the ultimate price for his: death. He is still a human being and I'm going to do my best to treat him as one. Judge not lest ye be judged.

[REP]

15. Thank You For The Sermon; Now Please Heed Your Own Words

You're the one who passed judgment, saying that 'we all do stupid shit when we're young.' I agreed with that, but pointed out that being responsible for the deaths of others is far beyond 'stupid shit of one's youth' as to be actual evil.

You have also judged others when you say "we all do evil." Is that so? If you are saying that you have done evil, I won't challenge you, but you cannot say that "we all" do evil. Most people do not commit murder or order the deaths of others. It's remarkable easy to avoid doing either.

As for you sending postcards to a condemned man, well, I had no opinion on that - just your pronouncement that his part in the murderers of at least four people was a youthful indiscretion. If you wish to send postcards to this person, by all means, do so! I am sure it will make you feel better.

Even though I am not a Christian, I am familiar with Matthew. Here's another verse from it you may enjoy: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

[Th1onein]

18. You seemed to be saying that no one should send him anything...

I am not judging you. Period.

Also, I think that being responsible for the murders of four people was, in this case, if not a "youthful indiscretion," certainly a matter of youthful idiocy. This young man ordered the death of these people, because he was a captain in a gang. It's a lot easier to order someone's death than to have to do it yourself. I think that the people who actually killed those people deserve a lot harsher sentence than this man deserves, since they, after all, are the ones who pulled the triggers.

In any case, I am against the death penalty in ALL instances. Period.

I guess you've never done anything that can be considered a "youthful indiscretion"? Hey, if not, more power to you, my friend. You're unlike most people I've met.

[Rabrrrrrr]

20. You raise an interesting ethical question -

who is more evil, the one who follows the orders, or the one who gave the orders?

By your reasoning, Hitler wasn't evil since he never killed anyone personally; or, even if he was evil, he wasn't as guilty as those who did the actual killing. I'm not sure I would accept that. But I am also not sure just where I would draw the line. Hitler's actions could never have happened if people didn't follow his orders.

Which is why I say it's an interesting ethical question - because it is difficult to answer.

[Th1onein]

21. Yes, it is interesting, but....

I am not saying that he is any LESS guilty, but that the guys that carried out his orders are EQUALLY guilty and they didn't get the death penalty, so why should he have?

Also, I think that it takes a lot less effort to ORDER someone to kill someone else. I can TELL someone to kill someone and not have as much intent as the person who actually does the killing.

[jukes]

6. maybe his appeal will go through

and you can hook-up!

:scared:

[Th1onein]

11. I'm not interested in "hooking up" with him. And he is not

interested in "hooking up" with me. Lots of women write to male death row inmates because they want to marry someone who they can never really be married to, in any "normal" sense. He needs a friend; I'm his friend. Most of the time we talk about life after death--he seems to want to discuss that a lot, which I certainly understand.

[Saphire]

8. I don't , but a friend writes to a man in Minnesota. Seems to care a

great deal about him.

[Shell Beau]

9. No! I use my time for other things. I am not

downing you for doing it, but a lot of these people have done horrific things. I am able to forgive them. I don't really agree with the death penalty, but I would rather use my time for something else. I care also, and hopefully you have made some sort of difference in his life.

[RoyGBiv]

13. I did at one time ...

It's a long, involved story actually, and I won't bore anyone with all the details. Starting when I was still in my teens, I corresponded with him for several years, as did my grandmother who had been his teacher when he was in high school, and I was casually involved in an effort to get him a new trial. He proclaimed his innocence throughout, and most of the evidence used against him in court was clearly speculative at best.

He got his new trial, was convicted again, but got a sentence of life imprisonment rather than death, in part due to the nature of the evidence.

Then he admitted he did it.

I'm glad he's not going to be executed. I am fundamentally opposed to the death pentalty no matter the crime. However, I felt betrayed and learned a hard lesson from this.

He's probably worse off now than he was when he was on death row because he alienated every friend and ally he had.

[Floogeldy]

14. Is he a killer?

?

[zanne]

16. Th1onein...

I think it takes courage to do what you're doing. No matter who he is or what he's done, facing death alone and despised has got to be the loneliest thing in the world. I'm not condoning what he did--I'm sure you don't condone it either; but thank you for sending him those post cards.

[Floogeldy]

19. I appreciate what you are saying . . .

. . . But my problem with the post is the part about "Now, he wishes that he had lived his life differently, but we all do stupid shit when we're young."

I'm sorry, no. We don't all do stupid shit like that when we're young. And, it is much more than a "pity" that someone had to die.

The OP's humanity towards the prisoner is laudable but she also appears to be minimizing the consequences of his alleged deeds.

[HornBuckler]

17. Your definitely cool-

I thought about a hundred different words to use and 'cool' seems to fit

right on for what you have done.

Here are some lyrics

I am a lonesome hobo
Without family or friends,
Where another man's life might begin,
That's exactly where mine ends.
I have tried my hand at bribery,
Blackmail and deceit,
And I've served time for ev'rything
'Cept beggin' on the street.

Well, once I was rather prosperous,
There was nothing I did lack.
I had fourteen-karat gold in my mouth
And silk upon my back.
But I did not trust my brother,
I carried him to blame,
Which led me to my fatal doom,
To wander off in shame.

Kind ladies and kind gentlemen,
Soon I will be gone,
But let me just warn you all,
Before I do pass on;
Stay free from petty jealousies,
Live by no man's code,
- And hold your judgment for yourself
Lest you wind up on this road. -


lyrics are Bob's - meaning and thoughts are ours.