Prison: A Waste of Human Life

[Sky Dancer]

"Ben Gunn is "one of Britain's best known prisoners....

Pleading guilty to the murder of a friend when he was 14 years old, Ben has since renounced violence and consistently fought for the recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings. Education Secretary Michael Gove to argue that Ben "has been punished excessively for a crime committed as a child", and Lord Ramsbotham to state that "It is expensive and unnecessary to keep Ben Gunn in prison".

Ben chose to educate himself from a schoolboy level to having both undergraduate and post graduate degrees. He is currently one of very few prisoners in Britain ever to attempt a Doctorate. Ben's speciality is non-violent action and the Human Needs Theory. Despite all provocations and the difficulties of existence in prison, Ben has never committed an act of violence since the age of 14."

BEN'S PRISON BLOG: IPP's

 

[Sky Dancer]

The victims was also someone who felt, loved, cared and more. Why so much more sympathy for the perp than the victims?

The woman who killed my loved one said much the same. He's still dead. And she's been arrested for the same fucking crime since. How many more people does she get to murder? How many more people have to go through what we went through because of idiots like you who think that 'prison is a waste of human life'?

Prison is extremely wasteful alot of the time. I'm sorry for your experience. I don't blame you for being angry. You don't have to take it out on me, though. I just see things differently.

I'm not taking it out on you. I'm telling you why I disagree. I don't give a shit who you are, if you are responsible for the death of another human being without just cause then you deserve to rot in hell, in my opinion. There is no 'waste' in that, to me. It is the justice that follows your own actions. We all live with the consequences of our actions. No one deserves to be treated differently. Prison is a consequence of an action. Don't like the consequence, don't do the action that leads there. Not rocket science.

Name calling is taking your anger out on me. It's unproductive.

We disagree. I don't support the death penalty and you do. Executing Jarvis Masters would be a complete human waste and waste of tax payer dollars. It costs more to execute a prisoner than it does to keep him in prison for the rest of his life.

 

[syrenn]

Masters was accused of sharpening the piece of metal that was used in the murder. Masters was on the fourth tier at the time of the murder. Of the three men, only Jarvis was given the death penalty. The other two were given sentences of life without parole. Jarvis Masters has been on death row since 1990.

The only thing I see wrong with this is the actual person that did the stabbing didn't get death row but this man did..for sharpening the knife. I agree that sharpening the knife is actually participating in the murder whether Sky you want to accept that or not that is what the law says...he participated he is subject to the death penalty and that is what he received, though it should be converted to life because the actual murderer did not receive at the very least death himself.

And do you know if the one doing the stabbing... plead guilty or not to get the death sentence removed from the guidelines?

 

[Sky Dancer]

I agree. One of my close friends was a former gang member as a teenager. Thankfully, the missionaries taught him about Jesus Christ and he left the gang and gang life before he committed any crimes. He's probably one of the coolest guys i know. And probably the most physically fit.

What makes you think that Jarvis hasn't changed, exactly like your friend did?

It isn't about whether the person changed or not...a person can change, but if a person commits a crime they have to pay for that crime irregardless. I already said his part in the murder should have been life in prison like the others, not the death penalty, that I feel like it is unjust to put him to death when he sharpened the shank and the other guy actually did the murder and didn't get the same treatment, but he wasn't innocent.

He actually didn't sharpen the shank. He was willing to do it, he was mean enough to do it, but the gang gave the task to another prisoner who was quicker at it.

He didn't sharpen the shank that killed Burchfield.

 

[Sky Dancer]

I recommend this book too:

CELLING AMERICA’S SOUL by Judith Truststone

At first banned by prison officials as “dangerous,” this book is used in college, high school, and middle school classrooms and as a prevention tool for teenagers.
(Recommended by NPR & NAMI)

A horrifying, yet hauntingly beautiful journey into the hearts, minds and transformations of seven remarkable prisoners, four of them innocent, and those who contain, counsel, teach and love them, with humane alternatives to our almost $80 billion a year brutal industry with its 65% failure rate.

 

[yidnar]

People in prison are human beings. Human beings have the capacity to change.

Do approve of Bin Ladens death ??

Do I approve of Bin Laden's death? What does that mean? I think we may have learned more about terrorism if we had kept him alive.

He should have been tried for his crimes.

CAN YOU SAY WATER BOARDING !!

 

[syrenn]

I didn't say i had no heart or hated them. Some of them were there because they made a mistake, they are usually the ones that will admit that. The majority though deny they are guilty and will lie and manipulate others for their own good. I seen it first hand quite often. You learn to see thru the lies.

And the ones who don't lie have some rationalization. Example: The perv who raped and 11 year old girl, 'her mother said it was OK.'

No one is arguing that some people aren't able to change. I'm saying that some are capable of positive and they do change.

Jarvis Masters is a good example of someone who put his prison sentence to work in service to others.

Funny.... you stance so far has been that since his is such a changed man he should not be put to death for his crimes. His being a changed man....changes nothing in regards to his death sentence.

Fine...let him hlep as many as he can up until the time they march his criminal ass into the death chamber.

 

[syrenn]

Without prison Jarvis would have hurt alot of people.

Without prison Jarvis would have never become a "writer".

Jarvis is the first one to acknowledge that. Jarvis was lost when he was first incarcerated. Without the Death Penalty sentencing, he would not have sought a spiritual answer. His karma led him to the dharma.

Buddhist practice and writing have changed Jarvis Masters profoundly.

Well good for him. To bad it will do no good for the family of his murder victim.

 

[yidnar]

What makes you think that Jarvis hasn't changed, exactly like your friend did?

It isn't about whether the person changed or not...a person can change, but if a person commits a crime they have to pay for that crime irregardless. I already said his part in the murder should have been life in prison like the others, not the death penalty, that I feel like it is unjust to put him to death when he sharpened the shank and the other guy actually did the murder and didn't get the same treatment, but he wasn't innocent.

He actually didn't sharpen the shank. He was willing to do it, he was mean enough to do it, but the gang gave the task to another prisoner who was quicker at it.

He didn't sharpen the shank that killed Burchfield.

put the simian punk alone in the room with a real man and he would piss his pants!! .most ethnic gang members are nothing more than cowards that need the protection of other cowards !!

 

[Sky Dancer]

I don't support the death penalty. Jarvis is innocent of what he was accused of, (sharpening the shiv that killed Burchfield).

Jarvis death will help no one. His life and his writing inspire and help many.

I'm sorry you're all so angry about this. You don't know him. You won't educate yourself. I'm sorry for that too. It's sad.

 

[syrenn]

Yea, yea, yea. I've heard that before. I won't waste time going into details but people in prison are always 'transformed'.... and most of them return to be the fucking scumbag, murdering bastards the minute they get out.

If he's transformed, great. He can happily suffer the just penalty of his actions.

If he was truly transformed, he would understand the necessity to suffer the just penalty of his actions. It appears that he is not only a murderer but a damned good con artist as well.

I am against the death penalty. LWOP would be a just penalty for his actions, not execution.

If Jarvis had rerceived decent legal representation, he would have never gotten the death penalty.

I am for the death penalty. All of the conspirators should be in death row with him. Too bad the others plead a deal and got off the hook

NOooo... LMAO.... if jarvis was not a violent murdering conspirator...he would not have gotten the death sentence.

 

[Sky Dancer]

If he was truly transformed, he would understand the necessity to suffer the just penalty of his actions. It appears that he is not only a murderer but a damned good con artist as well.

I am against the death penalty. LWOP would be a just penalty for his actions, not execution.

If Jarvis had rerceived decent legal representation, he would have never gotten the death penalty.

I am for the death penalty. All of the conspirators should be in death row with him. Too bad the others plead a deal and got off the hook

NOooo... LMAO.... if jarvis was not a violent murdering conspirator...he would not have gotten the death sentence.

Explain how the man who actually stabbed Burchfield and the man who ordered the hit got LWOP.

Does that seem like just sentencing?

I don't think so.

Jarvis should not have gotten the death penalty.

 

[syrenn]

Jarvis has written:

"Those who want to make sense of my life will see, through my writing, a human being who made mistakes. Maybe my writing will at least help them see me as someone who felt, loved, and cared, someone who wanted to know himself for who he was."

Cool... self centered manipulator the very end ?


That little quote is all about poor me...look at poor oppressed me.. nothing was my fault...it was my situation in life.. ..the mistakes i made.... I felt cared and loved people ..and now they are going to kill me.



Hitler felt cared and loved many people
Charles manson felt cared and loved many people

 

[Sky Dancer]

Jarvis has written:

"Those who want to make sense of my life will see, through my writing, a human being who made mistakes. Maybe my writing will at least help them see me as someone who felt, loved, and cared, someone who wanted to know himself for who he was."

Cool... self centered manipulator the very end ?


That little quote is all about poor me...look at poor oppressed me.. nothing was my fault...it was my situation in life.. ..the mistakes i made.... I felt cared and loved people ..and now they are going to kill me.



Hitler felt cared and loved many people
Charles manson felt cared and loved many people

You are wrong. Jarvis Masters is no Hitler or Manson. He is not manipulative.

You are closed minded.

For the sake of those who would read something, I offer this:

http://www.freejarvis.org/case/docs/Jarvis_Innocence_Pamphlet.pdf

 

[syrenn]

My eleventh grade Contemporary Composition students read selections from Finding Freedom in the spring and now again in the fall. I want to thank you again for helping my students find a reason to live and dedicate themselves to constructive living."

DB
Los Angeles, California



"Our University class is reading your book Finding Freedom. We wanted to tell you how inspiring your book is and encourage you to continue writing. You have brought new meaning to Shantideva's statement:

Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
VM
Hamilton, NY
"I was so touched by the way Jarvis's story touched my students that I am attaching a few of the representative essays in the hopes that other educators might see how powerful his work is in reaching out to students with no real experience of people in his situation."

CC
Tucson, AZ

"I am an English professor living and working in the Northeast, and I am teaching a class this semester whereby incarcerated and "outside" students take a class together as peers, conducted in a correctional facility. I knew that I wanted to start the course by reading your book Finding Freedom together, and I asked that their first "paper" be a letter to you… Please know how warmly we all wish you well, and how absolutely heartened and moved and educated and resonated-with everyone was by your vivid, illuminating book."

SD
Hadley, MA

I just discovered the web page for Jarvis and am relieved and grateful for his advocates. I am a teacher in Chicago who is using "Finding Freedom" in my English classes and have seen the lives of my students transformed because of his powerful message. I was looking for a way to contribute money to Jarvis's appeal campaign and have found it. Thank you.

Excerpts from 11th graders’ letters to Jarvis Masters after reading FINDING FREEDOM
From Bravo High School, Los Angeles, Ca. 2005
I want you to know that your book really helped me to appreciate life and not take it for granted. I’m not saying I know exactly what you went through, and I might not ever, but the way you describe your stories makes me not want to ever go through that.
--D.B.Thank you for teaching me important morals and helping me understand the value of life.
--S.P.

Your faith and your actions serve to inspire others. Every member of my class was deeply touched by your work. Your honesty has helped open my eyes and given me a new hope in the faith of the human spirit. Your bravery under such daunting conditions is awe-inspiring. After reading your stories I have realized that one can never give up and that life is definitely worth living. Your work and your honesty mean a great deal to me. . I believe that you are an example of a person who has undergone adverse conditions and still remains hopeful that truth and innocence will prevail. It is your thoughts that have given me a newfound hope in humanity.
--A.R.

Your book really pushed me to care about other people more than to always care about only myself.
--Z.S.

Finding Freedom should be on every 11th grade class priority reading list. I admire your motivation and dedication. Those essential qualities are what make you the strong and faithful individual that many seek to become.
– J.V.

Thank you for your inspiration. Because of you I learned that life has its ups and downs and no matter what an individual should have strength, hope in himself and others as well.
--C.P.

You have no idea what your stories mean to us. Your passages really touched my heart and my soul. I could keep on reading them for a long time. I’m not that type of person that enjoys reading, but I really enjoyed reading your work. Have faith in the Man up stairs because he knows right from wrong.
--V.R.

You have become such a positive person in San Quentin and around the world. You have made such an impact in my life by knowing what you’ve been through and still finding a way to give life to others and giving all of us hope in succeeding in life. I thank you.
--E.P.

Your book encouraged me to stay away from violence so I won’t end up in prison. Like yourself, I grew up with no father. I’ve sometimes thought no one loved nor cared about me, and it was hard to move on. You sound as if you take your experiences well. So I would like to thank you for the encouragement you spread not only to me and people across the States, but in my class. Hopefully, your words planted a seed in everyone, because it definitely did for me.
--M.B.

The story I found most affective was “A Reason To Live.” I loved the fact that you helped keep Alex from committing suicide. Through your technique, I found that life is important and very valuable. I hope one day you will be released into the world. Again.
--V.P.

This book has been such an inspiration because it taught me about myself. I should not take life for granted and be the best person I can be. Stay healthy and strong because good things happen to good people.
--J.M.

Thank you for showing me what matters most, thank you for giving me so much reason to love my life and the ones around me. You are truly a man with enough will, heart, and passion to touch millions. I hope you find all the things in your life that matter most.
--J.C.

I fear the thought of ending up in prison and I savor the security I have. How can you deal with such intense drama? The qualities which you possess are unparalleled.
--B.J.

I know it should not matter to me if someone I do not know at all is killed or not but my dad is in prison too, and I would not want no one to kill him in there. Thank you.
--D.M.

I got diagnosed diabetic at a very young age. Sometimes I see life in a very dark way. For me, it hasn’t been easy and sometimes I wish I was dead. From reading your stories I have learned to see life in a more positive way. Life is hard but we have to make the best out of it and bringing ourselves down is not going to take us anywhere. What advice would you give me about the way I feel about life? I would really appreciate if you took some time and gave me some advice about how to deal with life and not see it so negative.
--M.S.

I have learned to treat people equally and with more respect. You continue to inspire as well as remind others of the importance of respect for one another.
--A.T.

I want you to know that your book is read by many people and changes people’s ideas.
--D.R.



Finding Freedom -- Writings from Death Row > What the Educators Have to Say"

And he should still be put to deah as soon as possible.

 

[California Girl]

I don't support the death penalty. Jarvis is innocent of what he was accused of, (sharpening the shiv that killed Burchfield).

Jarvis death will help no one. His life and his writing inspire and help many.

I'm sorry you're all so angry about this. You don't know him. You won't educate yourself. I'm sorry for that too. It's sad.

I'll tell you what makes me angry. Idiots who say shit like 'prison is a waste of human life'. You have no regard for the victims of violence, you just excuse those who perpetrate violence on others.

He knew that guy was gonna get murdered. He could have stopped it. He chose not to. His problem, his action, his consequence. If he had lousy legal representation, tough shit. He's on death row. Should he be there? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe LWOP would be a more reasonable sentence, but I'm not gonna cry about it either way.

I probably have more patience for him than I do for you though. You have this 'rose colored glasses' view where everyone is a life to be valued. I'm a tad more realistic. Some people don't deserve to be free to kill again.

 

[syrenn]

My eleventh grade Contemporary Composition students read selections from Finding Freedom in the spring and now again in the fall. I want to thank you again for helping my students find a reason to live and dedicate themselves to constructive living."

DB
Los Angeles, California



"Our University class is reading your book Finding Freedom. We wanted to tell you how inspiring your book is and encourage you to continue writing. You have brought new meaning to Shantideva's statement:

Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
VM
Hamilton, NY
"I was so touched by the way Jarvis's story touched my students that I am attaching a few of the representative essays in the hopes that other educators might see how powerful his work is in reaching out to students with no real experience of people in his situation."

CC
Tucson, AZ

"I am an English professor living and working in the Northeast, and I am teaching a class this semester whereby incarcerated and "outside" students take a class together as peers, conducted in a correctional facility. I knew that I wanted to start the course by reading your book Finding Freedom together, and I asked that their first "paper" be a letter to you… Please know how warmly we all wish you well, and how absolutely heartened and moved and educated and resonated-with everyone was by your vivid, illuminating book."

SD
Hadley, MA

I just discovered the web page for Jarvis and am relieved and grateful for his advocates. I am a teacher in Chicago who is using "Finding Freedom" in my English classes and have seen the lives of my students transformed because of his powerful message. I was looking for a way to contribute money to Jarvis's appeal campaign and have found it. Thank you.

Excerpts from 11th graders’ letters to Jarvis Masters after reading FINDING FREEDOM
From Bravo High School, Los Angeles, Ca. 2005
I want you to know that your book really helped me to appreciate life and not take it for granted. I’m not saying I know exactly what you went through, and I might not ever, but the way you describe your stories makes me not want to ever go through that.
--D.B.Thank you for teaching me important morals and helping me understand the value of life.
--S.P.

Your faith and your actions serve to inspire others. Every member of my class was deeply touched by your work. Your honesty has helped open my eyes and given me a new hope in the faith of the human spirit. Your bravery under such daunting conditions is awe-inspiring. After reading your stories I have realized that one can never give up and that life is definitely worth living. Your work and your honesty mean a great deal to me. . I believe that you are an example of a person who has undergone adverse conditions and still remains hopeful that truth and innocence will prevail. It is your thoughts that have given me a newfound hope in humanity.
--A.R.

Your book really pushed me to care about other people more than to always care about only myself.
--Z.S.

Finding Freedom should be on every 11th grade class priority reading list. I admire your motivation and dedication. Those essential qualities are what make you the strong and faithful individual that many seek to become.
– J.V.

Thank you for your inspiration. Because of you I learned that life has its ups and downs and no matter what an individual should have strength, hope in himself and others as well.
--C.P.

You have no idea what your stories mean to us. Your passages really touched my heart and my soul. I could keep on reading them for a long time. I’m not that type of person that enjoys reading, but I really enjoyed reading your work. Have faith in the Man up stairs because he knows right from wrong.
--V.R.

You have become such a positive person in San Quentin and around the world. You have made such an impact in my life by knowing what you’ve been through and still finding a way to give life to others and giving all of us hope in succeeding in life. I thank you.
--E.P.

Your book encouraged me to stay away from violence so I won’t end up in prison. Like yourself, I grew up with no father. I’ve sometimes thought no one loved nor cared about me, and it was hard to move on. You sound as if you take your experiences well. So I would like to thank you for the encouragement you spread not only to me and people across the States, but in my class. Hopefully, your words planted a seed in everyone, because it definitely did for me.
--M.B.

The story I found most affective was “A Reason To Live.” I loved the fact that you helped keep Alex from committing suicide. Through your technique, I found that life is important and very valuable. I hope one day you will be released into the world. Again.
--V.P.

This book has been such an inspiration because it taught me about myself. I should not take life for granted and be the best person I can be. Stay healthy and strong because good things happen to good people.
--J.M.

Thank you for showing me what matters most, thank you for giving me so much reason to love my life and the ones around me. You are truly a man with enough will, heart, and passion to touch millions. I hope you find all the things in your life that matter most.
--J.C.

I fear the thought of ending up in prison and I savor the security I have. How can you deal with such intense drama? The qualities which you possess are unparalleled.
--B.J.

I know it should not matter to me if someone I do not know at all is killed or not but my dad is in prison too, and I would not want no one to kill him in there. Thank you.
--D.M.

I got diagnosed diabetic at a very young age. Sometimes I see life in a very dark way. For me, it hasn’t been easy and sometimes I wish I was dead. From reading your stories I have learned to see life in a more positive way. Life is hard but we have to make the best out of it and bringing ourselves down is not going to take us anywhere. What advice would you give me about the way I feel about life? I would really appreciate if you took some time and gave me some advice about how to deal with life and not see it so negative.
--M.S.

I have learned to treat people equally and with more respect. You continue to inspire as well as remind others of the importance of respect for one another.
--A.T.

I want you to know that your book is read by many people and changes people’s ideas.
--D.R.

I think it is unethical of you to involve your high school students in your campaign.

 

[Sunshine]

Jarvis has written:

"Those who want to make sense of my life will see, through my writing, a human being who made mistakes. Maybe my writing will at least help them see me as someone who felt, loved, and cared, someone who wanted to know himself for who he was."

Cool... self centered manipulator the very end ?


That little quote is all about poor me...look at poor oppressed me.. nothing was my fault...it was my situation in life.. ..the mistakes i made.... I felt cared and loved people ..and now they are going to kill me.



Hitler felt cared and loved many people
Charles manson felt cared and loved many people

You are wrong. Jarvis Masters is no Hitler or Manson. He is not manipulative.
You are closed minded.

For the sake of those who would read something, I offer this:

http://www.freejarvis.org/case/docs/Jarvis_Innocence_Pamphlet.pdf

OMG. This just gets better and better! Not manipulative............
He has clearly manipulated YOU and many others!

 

[syrenn]

My personal story is irrelevant to this thread. The only story I'd like to tell in this thread, is one where Jarvis helped a severely disabled woman I know with end stage MS, to write a children's book before she died.

Your personal story is most relevant to this thread. If Buddhism can leave one of it's converts angry and rageful, it can leave others that way as well.

You didn't answer my question. How do we know Buddhism hasn't turned him into a bigger monster than he was when he was convicted?

1. The only way you would know what kind of person he is, would be if you read his books.

2. My personal story is not relevant to Jarvis Masters, except for the way he helped the woman with MS. I know about that experience first hand, because I was the one who wrote her words down to him and who read her his letters. It was a remarkable experience. Here I was, helping two people who were imprisoned be free enough to express themselves fully before dying. My friend with MS, was bedbound, unable to move anything, and had very little breath to speak. Even in this stage, she was able to write a book for her children before she died. She did so, with Jarvis' help.

3. If you wanted to know how Buddhism has helped Jarvis, you would read his books. He is a peaceful man, and he is completely free, even though he is on Death Row.

Where do the proceeds from his book sales go?

 

[syrenn]

My eleventh grade Contemporary Composition students read selections from Finding Freedom in the spring and now again in the fall. I want to thank you again for helping my students find a reason to live and dedicate themselves to constructive living."

DB
Los Angeles, California



"Our University class is reading your book Finding Freedom. We wanted to tell you how inspiring your book is and encourage you to continue writing. You have brought new meaning to Shantideva's statement:

Whatever joy there is in this world
All comes from desiring others to be happy
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
VM
Hamilton, NY
"I was so touched by the way Jarvis's story touched my students that I am attaching a few of the representative essays in the hopes that other educators might see how powerful his work is in reaching out to students with no real experience of people in his situation."

CC
Tucson, AZ

"I am an English professor living and working in the Northeast, and I am teaching a class this semester whereby incarcerated and "outside" students take a class together as peers, conducted in a correctional facility. I knew that I wanted to start the course by reading your book Finding Freedom together, and I asked that their first "paper" be a letter to you… Please know how warmly we all wish you well, and how absolutely heartened and moved and educated and resonated-with everyone was by your vivid, illuminating book."

SD
Hadley, MA

I just discovered the web page for Jarvis and am relieved and grateful for his advocates. I am a teacher in Chicago who is using "Finding Freedom" in my English classes and have seen the lives of my students transformed because of his powerful message. I was looking for a way to contribute money to Jarvis's appeal campaign and have found it. Thank you.

Excerpts from 11th graders’ letters to Jarvis Masters after reading FINDING FREEDOM
From Bravo High School, Los Angeles, Ca. 2005
I want you to know that your book really helped me to appreciate life and not take it for granted. I’m not saying I know exactly what you went through, and I might not ever, but the way you describe your stories makes me not want to ever go through that.
--D.B.Thank you for teaching me important morals and helping me understand the value of life.
--S.P.

Your faith and your actions serve to inspire others. Every member of my class was deeply touched by your work. Your honesty has helped open my eyes and given me a new hope in the faith of the human spirit. Your bravery under such daunting conditions is awe-inspiring. After reading your stories I have realized that one can never give up and that life is definitely worth living. Your work and your honesty mean a great deal to me. . I believe that you are an example of a person who has undergone adverse conditions and still remains hopeful that truth and innocence will prevail. It is your thoughts that have given me a newfound hope in humanity.
--A.R.

Your book really pushed me to care about other people more than to always care about only myself.
--Z.S.

Finding Freedom should be on every 11th grade class priority reading list. I admire your motivation and dedication. Those essential qualities are what make you the strong and faithful individual that many seek to become.
– J.V.

Thank you for your inspiration. Because of you I learned that life has its ups and downs and no matter what an individual should have strength, hope in himself and others as well.
--C.P.

You have no idea what your stories mean to us. Your passages really touched my heart and my soul. I could keep on reading them for a long time. I’m not that type of person that enjoys reading, but I really enjoyed reading your work. Have faith in the Man up stairs because he knows right from wrong.
--V.R.

You have become such a positive person in San Quentin and around the world. You have made such an impact in my life by knowing what you’ve been through and still finding a way to give life to others and giving all of us hope in succeeding in life. I thank you.
--E.P.

Your book encouraged me to stay away from violence so I won’t end up in prison. Like yourself, I grew up with no father. I’ve sometimes thought no one loved nor cared about me, and it was hard to move on. You sound as if you take your experiences well. So I would like to thank you for the encouragement you spread not only to me and people across the States, but in my class. Hopefully, your words planted a seed in everyone, because it definitely did for me.
--M.B.

The story I found most affective was “A Reason To Live.” I loved the fact that you helped keep Alex from committing suicide. Through your technique, I found that life is important and very valuable. I hope one day you will be released into the world. Again.
--V.P.

This book has been such an inspiration because it taught me about myself. I should not take life for granted and be the best person I can be. Stay healthy and strong because good things happen to good people.
--J.M.

Thank you for showing me what matters most, thank you for giving me so much reason to love my life and the ones around me. You are truly a man with enough will, heart, and passion to touch millions. I hope you find all the things in your life that matter most.
--J.C.

I fear the thought of ending up in prison and I savor the security I have. How can you deal with such intense drama? The qualities which you possess are unparalleled.
--B.J.

I know it should not matter to me if someone I do not know at all is killed or not but my dad is in prison too, and I would not want no one to kill him in there. Thank you.
--D.M.

I got diagnosed diabetic at a very young age. Sometimes I see life in a very dark way. For me, it hasn’t been easy and sometimes I wish I was dead. From reading your stories I have learned to see life in a more positive way. Life is hard but we have to make the best out of it and bringing ourselves down is not going to take us anywhere. What advice would you give me about the way I feel about life? I would really appreciate if you took some time and gave me some advice about how to deal with life and not see it so negative.
--M.S.

I have learned to treat people equally and with more respect. You continue to inspire as well as remind others of the importance of respect for one another.
--A.T.

I want you to know that your book is read by many people and changes people’s ideas.
--D.R.

DAMN !!This is what is wrong in our schools!!

I agree... this should never make it to a school class as reading. ...ever