Larry Shares a Message . . .

As per one of our original challenges, one actually selected by readers via reader poll, we have been corresponding with a few inmates.  One of them, Larry, we told about our website, and offered him a chance to send out a message on it.  Here is what he had to say:

“Being that I am a Death Row Prisoner who has been on death row for over 23 years without ever being heard in any court in my own voice, I don’t want Amanda and Dorian challenge of writing to a prisoner to end with the responding of my first letter to them, but rather that their challenge continue to where they extend themselves to do that which is within their powers to help me have a voice in court, so I will be afforded an opportunity to be heard, where I will be able to prove that I am an innocent and framed man, and subsequently this living madness can end!”

Now, we have told Larry, and we hereby tell you, that we probably won’t do all of “that which is in our power” to give Larry a voice in court.  We will, however, help him start and write his own blog (domains for which are free) in order to help get his voice heard.  And of course, we are posting this message itself.

*We would be happy to hear any questions or comments about Larry’s situation–challengezor@gmail.com.

 

So writeaprisoner.com works . . .

If you would like to correspond with an inmate, try writeaprisoner.com.

In fact, maybe it should be called correspond_with_a_mad_enthusiastic_inmate_immediately.com, because after we finally mailed our letters to the three inmates we had chosen to write to, we immediately received very, very enthusiastic replies.

In fact, all three inmates sent us more than one letter—and two of them not just letters.  We received all sorts of stuff—though I think maybe being more detailed than that might violate a little bit of their privacy.

Basically, it was very overwhelming.  And if you are thinking maybe, “Well, Dorian and Amanda, they probably just came off all naïve and whimsical, and those inmates probably smelled some soft hearts to take advantage of . . .” I would just say calm down a little bit.

We were very careful to issue disclaimers about not sending money, giving legal advice, or being females interested in a relationship.  (many of the profiles on a writeaprisoner.com are something like a personal ad . . . ).

We will also continue to be careful, and a little suspicious even.  Who knows how long these correspondences will last, or where they will go.  But right now it feels like we have done something that feels meaningful, and personal.  It feels like they all three really appreciated our letter.

In the meantime, if you would like to correspond with an inmate, seriously—try writeaprisoner.com.

Completing a Challenge?

So.  Writing to prisoners is easy: you just have to go to writeaprisoner.com, choose a prisoner, and write to him/her.  –which is cool, by the way, you should check out the site . . .

BUT, we were challenged to strike up a correspondence with an inmate.  And that means getting someone to write back. 

Well, we summoned all our “wiles”, wrote some letters, and hopefully we will hear back soon.  There were definitely some prisoners who we were excited to write to, and who we sincerely hope write back.

To see who we wrote to, check out Larry (a creative, outlandish older man), Marcellus (a heartfelt, sincere, vaguely spiritual man), and James (an open and prolific writer). 

To end this post, and to inspire you to visit writeaprisoner.com, a few words from Larry: “Don’t be the jug and cold water that you pour upon yourself- smell the flowers, take in some sun, dance with the wind, and live- LIFE!”