 Br. MikeO'Grady, S.J., Prisoner of Conscience |
School of the Americas |
Letter from Mike O'Grady to Claver Community
January 29, 2004
1/29/04
Dear Jim, Joe, Lou, and Tim,
It is Thursday night and I've finally been able to scrounge a pen, pad of paper, and envelope. I am in Unit 2B—the same unit I was in for the first two months. If all goes well, I will remain here for the rest of my time. I will likely be released on Saturday, February 28, if my math is right.
Tim and Joe, I am grateful to you guys for coming down the trial prep and cmty building time. I fee decidedly unsettled at the moment, having gone from such a tangible expression of Christian community as we saw last week to the desolating circumstances of jail. There is no getting around the fact that this is rough environment for body mind & spirit.
I have consistently calibrated my expectations of justice to the low end of the scale, so I was not surprised at our finding of guilt. I was somewhat surprised that our judge gave 3 months vs 6 months and that he gave no fine. Again, I find nothing but gratitude to share over these circumstances. I feel we've witnessed as best we can to the Gospel of Christ and to carry an ounce of anger or resentment at being given time—and being put in right away!—wouldn't sit right.
As soon as our judge served his sentence I realized that he was truly helping me & those of us who wish to show the ways our govt, military, prosecutors, jails, all work together to stifle and quash conscientious dissent.
I believe our lawyers did the best job they could under the circumstances. In fact, Ed Osowski want to proceed to an appeal up through the system. If we can help SOA Watch to defray the cost of this it would be appreciated.
In our conversations this week it was always in my mind as a slim but real possibility that I'd possibly be immediately remanded into custody. I've learned over these months to not attach to any outcomes until they've arrived. All else is speculation.
I must say the time spent in fellowship and communion with our community of hope and resistance has given me a considerable strengthening & encouraged spirit. I can't say how much I appreciate the extensive support we defendants were afforded. It will help to make this next month of spiritual practice that much more focused and fruitful.
Its funny, the first 2 months in I was unable to pray in my accustomed zen-sitting mode. Entering here a few days ago I find myself now able to do so. Having spoken at length to Ben Jimenez about his daily ordo gave me the imaginative space to do this. I hope to be a grounded centering and peaceful presence to fellow inmates here.
We are currently under sanction because of the unruly violence that has permeated this unit for the last month. The jail authorities are trying to impose a rigor and discipline in order to filter out the dangerous & destructive elements in here & put them into a higher security unit. We've been told we can only have limited visits, limited correspondence, and a few books. After a thorough search, we will be held strictly to this. Last wks search found contraband—not good!
Please encourage my friends to send letters, and articles from magazines, journals etc. These should make it through the censors. We can forget about books. They won't get through this time. I'm told.
Fellows, can you forward some money to my commissary account. I will need to purchase some soap, toothpaste, toiletries & paper, pen, envelopes.
I have resumed my modified fast (1 meal a day consisting of vegetables only) and drinking plenty of water and juice. Since we have no exercise opportunities and since the bulk of the food here only serves to get one sluggish & constipated, I try to moderate my intake to keep my spirits sharp and my health well. I will adjust if need be, I'm not doctrinaire but try to be responsive to these spiritual & physical conditions.
One of the fellows I befriended here got into a bit of trouble during the last weeks disturbances. The stresses of the confrontation are still being discussed by the men in my cell and we know the ramifications are already being felt.
Please can you post this to our community web site and to SOA Watch. I was told by Ed Osowski that you were able to reach my parents—thank you for letting them know of my status. I am grateful to you guys for the support and prayer and encouragement that our common life together gives. It is in times such as these that the deep graces of our community (both our Jesuit community and our larger Christian community) come apparent.
Your brother in Christ,
Mike
[Editor's notes: A money order want out in the morning mail the same day Mike's letter arrived in the afternoon. Jail regulations prohibit packages or even large envelopes or cards. So if you send an article, pick one that can be folded and sent in a regular #10 envelope.]
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