Other essays on this theme

Essay: "Gratitude"

by Dave Snyder
A blessing, thanks, appreciation.

How many times a day, a week, a month, a year or in our lifetime do we say: "Thank God for...?" How many times do we say it for others or for ourselves? Just how much do we mean it, or is it just a cliché in the world today?

Most of the time we are thankful. Other times we curse the very things we were once thankful for. Hey, it's a human trait and we're all human; some are better than others in various ways. I'm living in irony. I'm grateful, in a way, to have "seen the light" about prison and our courts. I know some of you are scratching your head. No, I had to and am going through a system of hell made by man's own hand. Huh? The maxim goes, "baptism by fire". Well, I've been burned by two systems I once believed were right and fair etc. Sure, I had lapses but essentially I am good. Now? I see the truth.

 
Corruption 
Degradataion 
Slavery 
Back-scratching 
Money machine 
Oppressive 
Criminal in itself 
Unjust 
Bias 
Dictator 
Witch Hunter 
Self-righteous 
Liar 
Paranoid 

I had to go to prison to see what things really are. It's an ugly monster who was being beaten, but the likes of Governor Pataki healed the beast and gave it more power.

So, am I grateful? Yes. Yes, in a sadly gained way. I have gratitude, I've seen and know the slime running through the system's veins. Now I'm in a position that I can more effectively fight from, to show and tell the truth, make the system answerable and in the spotlight. It's given me a multiple reputation: political advocate, letter writer, fighter, SOB, pain in the ass, etc. etc. Fine. I won't hide. And as much as it puts my mind and emotions in a spin, and body as well, I still fight.

I have gratitude for being put in the beast's maw so I can kill it from within.