 Br. MikeO'Grady, S.J., Prisoner of Conscience |
School of the Americas |
Letter from Mike O'Grady to Claver Community
December 18, 2003
December 18, 2003
Dear Jim & Joe & Tim & Lou,
Greetings! I hope you've received my last correspondence as I've been experiencing a shift from desolation to consolation and it's feeling like looking at the sun on the back end of one of our monster Ohio thunderstorms—rain, lightning & thunder on one horizon, sun & clarity on the other. I've found a rhythm in this space and actually feel like I'm more acclimated to the to the treatment and conditions here.
I.e. each week we receive a towel/washcloth, and bedding (meant to cover our plastic and foam mattresses. The bedding is like a sock—meant to slide over the mattress. Most of the stuff we get is like rags & yesterday the guards gave me a bedding that was shredded from top to bottom, practically useless. I asked for a replacement and was told “You get what you get.” I continued to share with them the condition of the item but to no avail. It took a little while of being angry at this & then I realized I should be grateful for whatever I get. Later one of the same guards came by on another task and I said to him, “Sorry I got on you for these bedding things. I know you're overworked and underpaid and you can't accommodate all these complaints.” The fellow was genuinely shocked that I'd say this. He smiled and said thank you. An opportunity to gather anger & turn it into resentment turned into an opportunity to connect with a fellow human being doing a difficult job in a tough environment. Letting go of that completely changed my day.
It is wonderful to hear that Lou's medical regimen is helping energy level. I've heard about yeast imbalances and would like to learn more when I get out. Personally I think I may have a bullshit imbalance! Louie, your Santa photo with Jim Shappelle really brightened my day today. I know firsthand how depressed fellows in jail are getting now (especially those who are going to be in for a while). So your visits to 2020 can only be consoling and comforting to our young brothers.
Joe, I'm glad that you found that Berrigan book. Ben should enjoy it. It's a good compendium of DB's thought and words. I got a nice crossword puzzle book from Alice . I do (I try to do) one a day. It's got almost 170 in it. I also am rereading Taylor Branch's history of the civil rights movement “Parting the Waters— America in the King Years 1954-63.” A chapter a day. It's so powerful to reread this awesome and inspiring book about the struggle for human rights while ensconced in a Deep South correctional setting. These men and women such as King, Lewis, Moses, Lawson, Farmer, Shuttlesworth, Abernathy, Parks, Nash and a thousand others all have taught me and I try to practice what they practiced…
Tim, it sounds like the garden is fully asleep now. Imagine harvesting veggies so late in the season. I bet you did the “turkey and greens” thing. How is the work with WIN & CUFA? Are things slowing down leading into the holidays or ratcheting up? Tim, also… What is the status of meetings with Stephanie, Maryann, and you regarding Chabot? St. X (Kemper) would like to join this…
I think often of your desire to outreach with the guys on the street corner. The friends and acquaintances I'm making in here are not unlike them. Many drug cases, some violence, mostly drug salesmen. There's a large group in my cell block who see their time in here as a speed bump or worse, as a time to take it easy, play the tough guy, talk loud and rough, and glorify their past exploits while waiting to game the system and get back out there. There's a much smaller cohort who are desirous of changing their behavior. One of the guys last night was saying “I finally get it. I can't do this stuff anymore…I get caught.” He'll be in for possibly 3 more years—he's waiting to go to a state prison. For some in here, the locked-up time is salutary and it shifts their thinking. Anyways, I say this only to reflect that people change only when they're ready to change. Surely some in our neighborhood are…how to approach this? How to let all know of care and respect that they have available to them.
I've gotta say, the “thug” culture is a strong subculture in so far as it reinforces the seemingly anti-social behaviors & (seemingly) supports those who embrace it. In reality it destroys its inhabitants and corrodes the communities in which it is prevalent (i.e. corner of Borden & Elmore etc.). One thing I'm learning here is that an openness to conversation & conveying a sense of respect and dignity towards these brothers goes a long way in opening up a relationship. I'm not so sure I'd be successful if I was trying to figure things I could or should do for them. At this stage it seems right to get to know them and encourage guys in their deepest (Good!) hopes/desires and talk through their fears.
Joe, I'd like to know more about our province press release/statement and what I could do to share my thoughts. Our trial is last week in January and I wonder if that would be a good opportunity to do so. Whether convicted or not, it could tie in with our work on SOA with the public witness of others. If I bond out on the 23rd or 24 th (as spoken of in my last letter) there would be time for interviews following our trial. I DO NOT PLAN TO GO RIGHT BACK INTO THE GEORGIA SYSTEM TO FINISH MY TIME.
I'll likely plead not guilty while stipulating to the facts of our/my action at the Fort. The judge will likely convict and give a 3-6 month sentence. My inclination is to finish out my time in a federal prison which means I'd likely have to self-report somewhere in the Midwest when a federal jail bed open up. Conceivably I could be out and up in Cincinnati from the end of Jan after the trial until the feds find me a spot (in the past it has been 4-6 weeks).
During that time between trial & reporting to prison I could visit our apostolate, speak to students about SOA and jail solidarity. A number of our friends have already invited me, i.e. Brebeuf, Loyola Academy , St. X, XU, LU, et al. This is an exciting way to share our mission and I could also do press visits. Anyways something to think about— namely, that a good press/release/statement time might be immediately following our trial. Let me know what you think!!! That would be my strongest inclination. A period in which we could capitalize on my free time and availability while being able to share Muscogee/SOA experiences.
Finally, guys, I'm getting overwhelmed with mail (Oh, woe is me!!!) and I try & respond to all but I can't with the limited envelopes I get weekly. If I send letters via Claver, can you post them for me? I'll put the name and mailing address on top of the letters. This will allow me to write people I'd not be able to otherwise.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support, guys.
Mike
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