RIGHT TO THE CHIN

Hey, Bill. Thanks for stopping by Soap For Dinner earlier. I've been having fun checking out your blog for a few weeks now. Thanks for giving me an "Otros Bloggeros" link, too.

I didn't write a letter to an inmate; however, I did make a parody of an inmate personal advertisement. It's called WriteAnIncarceratedIndividual.com. You can find a link to it on my blog ( ron.chattablogs.com). Enjoy!

Subj: WriteaPrisoner.com

I am just a little curious as to why you consider this site weird. I would venture a guess that you are not a person to go out on a limb for someone. Oh, perhaps you would for someone you are acquainted with and count among your loved ones but I don't think you would reach very far to help save a drowning stranger.

A while back I spent a year in jail (a civil court judgement) and although I didn't care for my stay very much, I came away with some precious knowledge and insight that most people never experience. I learned that most people (my past self included) take way too many things for granted. One of the things taken for granted is simple communication between one another. I was fortunate that I have a loving family and they helped the days go by with their constant letters and cards. This is not the case for many of the 'criminals' I met while an inmate. Many of these criminals go months, even years without receiving personal mail and as a result many feel forgotten and insignificant. I have seen with my own eyes how unexpected mail can boost an inmate's morale and spirit. Almost all of the inmates I met openly admitted that they were their as a result of their own doing and many feel their sentences were justified. What the general public would have an hard time to acknowledge is that of these criminals most are there because of bad decisions often influenced by outside forces such as drug addictions, poverty, ingnorance, divorce, loneliness. They are real people, with real problems who didn't have the resources, intelligence or will-power to avoid making a wrong decision. Most inmates will be released someday and for the sake of all society, should be rehabilitated. In a large part, rehabilitation comes through intangibles such as self-esteem, love and friendship. For the good of all, they need to realize society hasn't forgotten them. I would urge anyone reading this to pick an inmate and write a letter. I have several times. It is easy. You only have to get as personal as you want. Say hello, wish them well. Tell a little about yourself or where you're from or write about current events or sports or whatever. Provide a return address and I can almost guarantee you will receive a friendly response and probably a little more wisdom than you had before.

There are many lonely prisoners out there and most of them will be released. Your letters can make the difference in the type of person that emerges from behind them walls. A kind word truly goes a long ways.

Thanks for providing this forum.

im looking for a pen pal to talk to and shair some time with, if anyone is intersted let me know

im wanting an update on an green haven prisoner his name is fredderick m preston hes about 25 years old