Hey, kind people of DU and the Lounge. I have a favor to ask. ***UPDATE (post 30)***

[Kali]

Last edited Sat Aug 18, 2012, 07:21 PM - Edit history (2)

A fellow DUer is in a fairly bad situation without a lot of support. I just got a letter from him updating things and I will be writing back ASAP. What I would really love to include would be a printout of a famous Lounge Vibes Thread (TM).

Jonathan explains things here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101880733 and here http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018127310 and the bottom line in post 14 of that second thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018127310#post14.

Young guy in jail. In Texas. He wrote in his letter that he has a chance to get into a halfway house type program called SMART which would be way better than prison. In the meantime he is doing OK, in fact his letter came across not exactly upbeat, but healthy and with good observations and comments so I am thinking he is going to be OK. But I know he would love to have some DU-Lounge love from you all and he specifically asked me to share with "all the great folks at DU"

He's jonesing for political news too so if anybody wanted to give a summary for the last couple months that would be so cool.

I will copy some of his letter tomorrow when I have a little better light.

For now: greetings/vibes/humor? for Johathon/Dragonbreathp9d, please

(oh PS if anybody would like to write to him directly I am sure he would be THRILLED - PM me and I will give you the info)

[NYC_SKP]

1. (((((vibes)))))

Hoping for peace and calm for him.

[freshwest]

29. + (((((((((HUGS from DU)))))))))

[Flaxbee]

2. Good vibes and positive thoughts for Dragonbreathp9d (love the name)!

Really hoping the SMART program works out!

Dragonbreathp9d!

[Ptah]

3. Vibes on the way.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Major good vibes for Dragonbreathp9d!

I hope he can get into this halfway house program called SMART. It would be a lifesaver for him!

We're on his side, Kali!

[MiddleFingerMom]

5. Dragonbreathp9d -- strength and coping vibes going out to you.

.
.
.
I hope you get a chance with that SMART program!!! That's GOT to be a big step up from
where you are now.
.
There were a group of young Chicanas here in Tucson who had a GREAT weekly radio
program. Part of their show was spent reading messages from the friends and families of
the local "pintos" (prisoners in the area who had a good chance of listening). One of the
strongest and most-often recurring messages was "Don't let no one get you down!!!"
.
I went into the Army at the age of 17. I was a BIGTIME smartass (I bet THAT surprises
a lot of people!!!) who had BIGTIME trouble with authority (not saying YOU do -- but I[i/]
did.) The ONLY way I survived my first year (of 6) was that I adopted the attitude of
"YOU can not beat me into the ground... only I can let that happen."
.
It's true. Ultimately, YOU are responsible for how you feel... how you react to adversity.
You sound like a GOOD person who's taken some really HARD knocks recently. It doesn't
sound like ANY of it is insurmountable.
.
You're in touch with some good, supportive folks here. That's at least ONE external thing
in your favor.
.
.
.
Don't let no one get you down, Jonathan!!!
.
.
.

[coffeenap]

6. Thinking of you...

I just learned of your situation on DU today, thanks to dear Kali. I am so sorry you are going through this and I wish you strength and hope. The halfway house sounds like a real step out--I hope it happens for you. I am a mom of someone your age and my mommy-heart goes out to you. Know that we are thinking of you here at DU and are in your corner.

[ohiosmith]

7. Sure!

[Bertha Venation]

8. Jonathan

In the weeks to come, Mrs. V. and I will be sending you our best vibes from Southern Maryland. I don't know if you put any stock in prayer, but she is a praying woman, so you'll have that, too. We have ten cats, and I will tell all of them about you. I will tell them that a man in another part of the country knows this crazy cat woman in Maryland.

Okay, not very funny, but certainly from the heart. Hang in there, J. You're worth it. Keep in touch through Kali, and get back on DU as soon as you can!

[riderinthestorm]

9. please take care Jonathan! Many ((((vibes)))) coming your way'

I remember you and your plight. Hang in there!

[GoCubsGo]

10. Sending good vibes...

And, remember: That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I have a feeling you're going to be joining MiddleFingerMom's "I am fucking invincible" club soon.

[Dystopian]

11. Better than prison....

Dearest Jonathon

A horrific story ... my heart goes out to you...
Yet, that is not enough. It won't help.
It sounds as though you've got a good chance at the halfway house...
Sadly, you don't need it ...
But it's your ticket out of that place...

We all face the strife of life ... You've had more than your share as of late ...
Hold on to faith ... Knowing that you're a good person..
You were wronged .... There are many in jail who were wronged.
The system is horrible, but I know that you can overcome this.
You have TRUTH on your side.

Kali feels that you're OK ...
She knows more, and I have faith in her judgment.

Will keep you in my thoughts...
We are here... You are not alone.
I truly wish I could help ...

peace and love to you~

[elleng]

12. Maybe send this,

as political news and something else to look forward to,

http://www.powellforva.com/

http://cancantor.com/

and BEST WISHES!

[emilyg]

13. Good wishes on the way.

[Kali]

14. thanks all!

keep them coming and maybe we can get back on the latest page with a milestone (25 replies)

[SnohoDem]

15. Best vibes from me!

[Kaleva]

16. Sending vibes your way Jonathon!

[marzipanni]

17. Jonathan

After what you've been through, a halfway house sounds like R & R. I sincerely hope you can do the program.
I have a feeling you will come out of this having gained something, and see the way beyond the craziness of working on 6th Street.
My brother was walking home one time near where a crime had occurred and was taken in, accused of a felony- at the preliminary hearing judge found 'no probable cause', and brother was free.

Good luck, let the truth prevail!

[HappyMe]

18. Sending you

the very best vibes I have. Hang in there.
You will be in the SMART program before you know it.

[Kali]

19. ****Jonathon's letter**** summary/observations

He apologises (!) for taking so long to write as he wasn't even allowed to bring the piece of paper with my address in. Had to have a friend get it and send it to him.

He notes that there are a lot of really good people stuck in jail. The vast majority fighting bullshit charges or in for minor possession cases, further exemplifying the need to decriminalize. One 17 year old was facing 15 years for having 20 fake crack rocks. (you can imagine why Texas is rough on crack cases - racism)

He says there a lot of people with mental health issues and borderline retardation. His main impression of jail is it's incredible absurdity.

As I mentioned in the OP his good news was possible plea deal where he would enter a 5 month rehab program. There were some glitches in the process and I am not sure how much of that should be made public so I won't repeat it all. Just know the eye-rolly and head banging against brick wall smileys would be completely appropriate.

Describing the environment, he says there is subtle psychology going on all the time - from soothing green paint to frequent guard rotation (so they won't begin to see the prisoners as human beings) and the rule that guards have to call inmates by their booking numbers instead of their names.

Ramen soups are the currency. "Anything and everything can be bought for the right amount of soup"

Food is served at 5 AM (to mess with your sleep), 10 AM and 4 PM - leaving you hungry at night and therefore mor likely to buy food from the commissary.

Lights are on 24/7. No pillows.

For recreation/entertainment he says he has met some of the best chess players he has ever seen. However the library is "pathetic" - everything is John Grisshom and Dean Koontz (oops hit post instead of the rofl smiley I intended on that so now I am in edit mode) He said on the bright side he thinks they may be getting Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience at his request.

Apparently the chaplain "doesn't seem to know the difference between Hinduism and Baha'i" as he asked for the BhagavadGita (for the beauty, not becasue he is Hindu) and they sent him Baha"i stuff instead. It was OK though, becasue he didn't know anything about it and has found it quite interesting.

He laments the lack of news or what is going on close to the election. Hopes to have internet access if/when he gets to SMART and asked me to "please share with all the great folks at DU"

And now I have (finally) done that. Sorry to take so long, but this lets me give this another kick. I found a way to send an e-mail to the jail (it costs 60 cents a page plus some little sign-up fee) and may do that in order to make sure I get word back to him before he gets transferred (hopefully soon) so anybody that wants to add a few more words and I can copy and paste the greetings into that.

Thanks everybody.

[Kali]

20. kick for the weekend

[susanr516]

21. Sending loads of good vibes to Jonathan

Keep your chin up and I hope you can get into the SMART program asap.

[DiverDave]

22. Hang in there John.

Dave.

[irisblue]

23. ((HUGS)) for Dragonbreathp9d

vibes too.. Kali, thanks for doing this...props for this as well

[Frosty1]

24. Major vibes sent to you

This too shall pass.

[Kali]

25. one more kick for Sunday afternoon/evening

[turtlerescue1]

26. Hugs from an old broad to you.

and Kali, here's late Sunday KICK.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

27. if its not too late, I'm sending some vibes too.

Jonathan, when I read the posts about your ordeals 2 months ago, my heart really went out to you. I hope that you are holding up ok, and I wish you best of luck, and hope for some wise, compassionate parole board folk to grant you entrance to that SMART program. Stay strong, you'll get through this. There will undoubtedly be more challenges ahead, but this one is a biggy. We're all behind you here in the lounge.

[Kali]

28. not too late at all - that is my job!

I was going to try to have my message to him ready last night but of course I haven't even started it.

on it now though, so there is still a little time if anybody else wants to add something for me to copy and paste into it

[Kali]

30. ****VAGUE GUILTY UPDATE****

well, my procrastination has caused me some confusion. I finally sent a 5 page e-mail letter to the facility where Jonathon was being held. I had sent a small amount of spending money earlier and that seemed to go through fine. The e-mail did too. Until the next day when I got two notices that the e-mail was rejected.

I THINK it means he got into the SMART program already, but of course, their privacy rules preclude me actually finding out where he is, so now I am not sure if he even got the money. I talked to someone from the web company that does the tech support and he said give it a few days to see if the system issues a refund or not, or if I hear from Jonathon.

I don't really care about the money but I would sort of like to know he is OK. DAMN, I am so sorry I took so long to write back. I feel like a shithead.

At least there is a good chance he is out of jail and in a better environment. That is the good news.

[nolabear]

31. Don't feel bad, Kali. The system is utterly screwy.

I've known people through my work who have had a horrible time getting things through to relatives, and friends are even worse. I hope Jonathan manages, n=more than anything else, to get through this and leave it, physically and emotionally, behind him.

[freshwest]

33. +1