Letter about the one I love
Today I
write to the management and staff of Ely State Prison to let you know that at
night when I pray for the safety of my loved one I also pray for you, your
safety is important too and that God will keep all his children at ESP safe.
I know you
have a tough job, we all get that! Some of you may work there because you have
no choice and others simply because its suits you either way I beg you to never
forget that our loved ones are like you and me, still human.
At times you
may forget and treat them as less than what they really are, human beings but
again I ask that you to remind yourself that despite the fact that many have
made mistakes, some may even be innocent of the crimes they were convicted of either
way they now find themselves in dreadful circumstances but they are like the
rest of us, still a part God’s creation, the human race.
You may at
times refer to our loved ones as animals because they may act out but they are still
someone’s son, husband, brother, partner, uncle, nephew or friend. We love them
regardless of the mistakes they may have made just as you would still love your
loved ones. No one is sin free!
So I ask
again that before you dismiss another human beings request again and before you
physically, emotional or mentally abuse or neglect them remind yourself that
despite of their circumstance, they still have feelings, emotions and yes
sometimes even anger and rage.
Sadly many
of our loved ones at Ely are caged up like animals yet expected to function
normal. If this had to happen to you and believe me it can happen to anyone because
we live in a lawless country would you not feel the same frustrations. Being caged
up, stripped of all rights and treated as if you were a nothing, lose all your
social skills because of no or very little contact. Would you not also act out?
People in
your care suffer from depression, anxiety, confusion and mental illness not
because they were born this way but because the American Justice System are
making them “lose their minds” they cannot be expected to always act or think
rationally as they are living with a constant feeling of loneliness, fear and despair.
Stripped from their basic human rights!
While you are
fortunate enough to return to your loved ones at night, we lay awake and beg
God to keep our loved ones safe. Each new day is a new struggle and challenge
for us because we don’t have the privilege to pick up the phone at any time to
check on their safety and wellbeing. We have to rely on the limited calls
allowed and letters and that’s if there is enough money for phone or stamps.
Not only do
we worry about their safety while they are in your care but we also worry about
so many other things, Are they warm enough? Are they Hungry? Are they feeling
lonely? Are they feeling suicidal? We
feel guilty every time we have a good meal or when we put on another jumper
because we are feeling cold because these are basic privileges you and I have
but not our loved ones in prison.
We live in
fear and anxiety because our loved ones are constantly at risk of harm so like
our loved ones in your care we are too are being punished by the state and
serving the time. The only difference being that we are not caged up. Still we
feel helpless, judged, and lonely, suffer from depression and our only wish is that
our loved ones are safe and will get through each day unharmed and the pain we are
all feeling is respected and understood.
Please take
care of our loved ones, they mean the world to us!
