PRISONER EXPRESS

Maybe some of you heard it too, and understood what "The decider" decided to do after all. I guess that Dubya fails to realize that any Â'Time' spent in prison is and has a ph psychological effect on the mind, mental torture for the rest of our lives. I've known some bullies. Some are natural born bullies like Fat Rudy, they do not know they are bullies... I would call those; the innocent bullies, they are so rough, and tough that they do not even know their own strength and hurt people unintentionally...

I've known some other types of bullies that like to go out of their way, and go around pushing people around, to show dominance and to try to show off on how mean cruel or bad, they are, by beating down smaller, weaker foes, and forcing them to submit.

Makes me recall several incidents here in prison, when I witnessed people get beat down, and there was nothing I could do about it. And there was the one time, one incident where I could do something, and I jumped on a bully--- and gave him some of his own medicine. It felt good, I won't deny the pleasure I felt, and I never forget that shocked look on his face when I struck the bully. WOW!

I was in the fields doing fieldwork in 110-degree weather. So, it was very hot that day in 1979 (long ago...) during those times anyone n solitary only got one good meal a tray every 3 days. The rest of the days it was one slice of carrot, 2 or 3 peas, a slice of bread and a cup of water, for breakfast, 2 or 3 raisins, a slice of bread and a cup of water. Supper was not much different, basically, the tray was empty. A man had just left solitary and was placed in the field squad...where I was working on #13.

It was known as a tough squad, all the men there had bid time, the smallest sentence was a man with 2-40 year sentences for two murders, all the rest had life of 99's 75, and 50's. None of us would see the free world for a long long time. One of the med took the lead, as Â'Lead-Row', and another as Â'Tail Row'. They kept the squad moving forward in line. The poor man that got out of solitary was weak drained of strength from 30 days in solitary. The sun was beaming down. The squad is was steady, tough, moving in union, when the man started to fall behind. The tail row beat him up one time. Then again, and over and over trying to force him to catch up to the rest of us...on the 8th time, I had seen enough! So, I stomped the tail row. I let off some steam. I felt furious, and let it go. I beat him up until he did not want to fight me any more. Then I helped the beaten down man, got him dusted and off the ground, and switched places, sent him to my row up front, and I took his and caught up quickly to the squad. The bullies kept telling me its over, he did not want to fight me no more. He knew in the building I could stab him.

I am not a bad dude, but sometimes we got to stand up to the bullies of the world. Some only respect a bigger bully, and some learn a lesson and have a change of heart and eventually become more compassionate towards other humans that are not so assertive or confrontational as they are. There are always ways to deal with bullies.

There are also many different types of bullies that push people around, some lead, some push, all bullies from a different mold, a different perspective.

For example, the convict called Hammer, he is a natural bully, he will cuss out any one, and push everyone to their limits... he knows who to tone down with, and who to respect. But the man can go to and on, hammering on in those who he wants to, I can imagine some cowering, and trembling, and jumping up at the sound of his deep voice. ha. Ha. Sometimes he laughs to himself, and I got a feeling that I know why, and he knows it too.. he is one crazy convict.

I've met many like him, and he reminds me of another a friend named Ruven... these men march to their own little drummer. The inner voice rules, man!!! The State of Texas is the bully of the United States and the mother of all bullies when it comes to executions.

The Texas death chamber doors need to be well oiled because they keep swinging open and closed so much. I can imagine the straps of the gurney, and the wheels too, need to be replaced or repaired from over use, so many people are executed in Texas. Hopefully, and maybe, some day that MORATORIUM will be signed to halt executions. But for now the Texas Bully continues to execute the guilty, and the innocent; only the rich and powerful, or the well connected can survive the bully's legal claws.

The Bull Shark is known for its aggressiveness, it's his nature. Bulls are known for their strength, and their fearlessness. They are dominating animals, very proud in stance. There is the American Bulldog, with similar qualities. We encounter bullies in all shapes and sizes...in animals such as the African Bull Elephant, to the cowardly French bulldog, and in men of all races.

Bullies are not necessarily men. There are women bullies too! We have some that work as guards here in the Texas Prison system. There is no discrimination in the title of Â'Bully'. For example Badboy, he acts like a bully, and if you do not know him he acts and looks like a real mean bully. But, once you get to know him, you realize he is a good guy that had or has a bad rap that follows him around. In reality, he is as friendly as a basket full of puppies. I guess anyone with patience can find a good side even on the roughest rock.

Like Don Clementino told his young son Tino, a short story when met with serious problem, he will share it, "the great American Eagle, sat in her nest, scanning the forest below, her stomach growling with hunger. She sat on a pair of eggs. The urge to eat was strong, and she flew into the sky in search of prey. After eating her fill, se flew back towards her nest. As she circled above, she saw two large black crows, pecking away at her eggs and eating their fill. She realized he had left the nest unprotected. The eagle could destroy the crows, no doubt. But, instead. She chose to fly over them and circle above them and let them eat their fill..."

Any time you are confronted with a bully, fly above the problem...look at what is going on. Some things are not worth the consequences. But, if you cannot fly above the problem, then, like the eagle does, so do! Life is a struggle in itself, but we have to learn to adjust and deal with it one-way or anther. The choices we make, all have consequences. There is no way around that. All we make all we can do is, out best! I am not a bully, but, I am not a pushover either. I've learned that in life sometimes we have to lead as well as follow, and do out best in either situation. THE END.