 Gary Ashbeck, Jonah House, Prisoner of Conscience |
School of the Americas |
Letter from Gary Ashbeck to Joe
December 19, 2003
Joe,
Thank you for the beautiful cards. I'm glad you have been in contact with Susan.
It has been quite a struggle to get a decent Bible. I have found in the process much ignorance on the part of jail staff and basic violation of the rules. They keep telling Alice (our support here in Columbus ) that spiritual books are not allowed but according to the inmate handbook they are. In fact they even say how many of them you can transfer with. And protestant materials are readily handed out.
Things are good. I hear from many people and I guess coverage has been good. I have not seen any of it. I did get a “letter to the editor” in the local paper trying to balance the patriotism rampant in the coverage.
So the big news is we got Saddam and he is going to stand trial. I wonder if that means the US will be indicted in giving him the WMD and aid so he was able to perpetrate crimes against humanity? I guess I wonder if it will even come up? Maybe in the international press. All the guys here have been watching for news. I sit and read.
Well happy holidays and Blessing and hope for a peaceful new year. Thanks again for the support.
Gary Ashbeck
[Editor's note: The whole issue of Bible version and spiritual books has been called to the attention of one of the members of the SOA legal team who is looking into it.]
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