 Gary Ashbeck, Jonah House, Prisoner of Conscience |
School of the Americas |
Letter from Gary Ashbeck to Jonah House, Baltimore
November 24, 2003
Hello All,
Thank you so much for all your support. It is a treasure to have you all with me. I just received a legal pad, pen, and envelopes. So now I can write. I do not have any addresses yet so mail will be slow for now.
I will be staying in Muscogee until trial. What a relief. Other inmates say I will be going to Harris Co after that to serve the rest. Karl Meyer gives Harris rave reviews and so do the others here. Ben, Mike and I have been separated, it seems purposely, on different floors. Bill Q will try to get us together. There is room so they may be trying to break our community so we submit to bond. I actually do not mind my location. They tell me I am in a good block. Bunk areas are off from the dayroom, as well as the bathroom with a curtain! To ensure privacy. 40 guys, 2/3 black, 1/3 white and a couple racists on both sides as they say. Everyone keeps coaching me on how to be, some helpful, some trying to further their cause. It has been a balance appreciating their help but not pissing them off when I explain how I feel about things. They know of us protestors, seem impressed at our fence feat, and are happy to have a “man of God with them.” No one seems to get mail so I worry a bit about reactions if I start getting a stream. On the other hand, I would love to know what is going on (kittens).
I have been meditating on a psalm a day. It may be the best way I can study them as I never looked at them before. Already I have found it fruitful.
They do not seem to feed us here, possibly as Steve B. found it. We get two meals and a “snack.” Commissary to supplement seems the only way. However that amounts to chips, candy and stuff they call juice. However I will not buy that unless I feel like I am wasting away. The meals are not exactly large either.
So I am improving my dominos, sharing stories and meditating. I feel bad I set to do all of that stuff while you all are working so hard. If there are any ideas of something I can do for student groups let me know.
Again all my love and prayers to you all. Thank you for the support. I am very well!!! Gary .
Return to Claver Jesuit Community SOAW page.
Return to Claver Jesuit Community home page.