Other essays on this theme
Essay: "Pride"by Vonderic Barlow Speak Up and Reach Out
From lesson to lesson, to theme to theme...the last was Expectations but this is another. I'm more conscious. I can see more. It feels good. All this time I thought another person existed within me. I looked within, I listened, I learned. Pride. "Do you understand now?" I am asked. Regardless of the consequences, pride forces a man to take control of his situation. I've found my niche in life because of...PRIDE. I refuse to continue living in such isolation that many prisoners are forced to endure in Ad Seg here in this Texas Prison System. The living conditions are inhumane, and I feel the only way to improve these conditions I have to start Speaking Up, Reaching Out through writing about it. There are over 160,000 prisoners and 120 prison facilities that make up the Texas Prison System. You see, prisoners used to seek companionship and friendship through prisoner-to-prisoner correspondence but unfortunately, TDCJ-ID has implemented one of the most restrictive policies prohibiting prisoners from writing each other. No longer are the days full of staying in touch for moral support. No longer are the days of guaranteed mail from men and women that could actually empathize with these harsh realities of being isolated and confined to prison. To over-come that obstacle we must reach to the outside world. Some are willing to write and possibly shed some light on this world, but they are targeted with so many forms of retaliation from the administration. So I know that I will not be immune to reprisal. I can only pray that my PRIDE will gain me the outside support that I need to just...to just...speak up and reach out. To write. ... "Yes, young soldier, struggle. You struggle mentally by seeking knowledge, wisdom and understanding." was the last I heard before I dozed off. Pride... |