Birds play a part in prison-life; at least in mine. Being surrounded by walls and razorwired fences, the fowl have to come to us.

I remember in one “pen” on the Atlantic coast having a large population of pigeons. There were a few hawks also, they would perch up on the 100 foot light poles. Every once in a while a hawk would swoop down and grab a pigeon, leaving only a few feathers behind to rain down on us.

I remember at another “pen” in Texas looking out my barred cell window, at a dip in the ground where sandpipers would gather after a rain. They moved around fast and seemed to do so with a purpose.

At a Chester County jail while in the “hole”, I remember praying for the sparrows outside my window. The razor wire would cut off their tiny little feet and they would laydown and die on the cold cement. Proof of this was laying there everyday.

The ducks, I remember the ducks at a Maryland prison. They would lay on the blacktop sunning themselves. The road led from the prison, there was little traffic.

I write this from a small space as usual: but it’s my space.

While watching staff trim limbs from the trees that house our fowl here at Coleman: I noticed that 2 nest, one with 3 young doves and one with 2 eggs laid upon on the ground. I picked them up, the mothers and fathers swooped at me. I assured them they would be ok.

Within seconds a warning came over the loudspeakers, announcing for everyone to clear the compound. We were herded to a space 10ftX30ft, a mini lockdown of sorts. Upon entering the space I searched mine out, 2 dove nest in tow. I found my spot-took off my shirt, removed the laces from my shoes-made a cloths line-hung my shirt and tee shirt over it, and had “my space”
I noticed a lot of new arrivals trying not to look over at me: they probrably thought I was the “unit nut”, sitting there, on the floor, behind my cloths line, with my bird nest, pen and paper, lol… little do they know, being so new.

I tore a little peice of my tee shirt and wet it, getting the young doves to take a drink was challenging, but accomplished. Once off this lockdown, I will try and find my friend Brian. Brian takes care of the birds as he has the time to devote to them. I will be able to visit them and watch them mature.

Watching pleasant things is good, please remember that: try it, find that “space”, and try it.

I have been visiting George ever since I met his sister – when she told me of her brother and how he was given a life no parole sentence for what amounted to about 2400 lbs of “pot”, I could not believe that the courts put people in jail for LIFE for something so minor. Some might say, well, 2400lbs, that’s alot of pot, not really, and bottomline it is JUST pot. I asked myself how many people could have possibly died from pot-after some investigating I found that NO-ONE has died from pot. So why was George given a LIFE NO PAROLE sentence??

Well, after looking into George’s case alittle and meeting with him at Coleman numerous times, it was easy to see why he was where he was, he was SCREWED!! Answer this, George plead guilty to his crime, and YES they threw ALL the conspiracy charges of intent with heroin and cocaine and this and that, bottomline is all they had was 2400lbs of pot, so why such a HARSH UNJUST sentence??

George was led to believe by his lawyer Bobby Simone that by pleading guilty, he would recieve a 10 year sentence. Do I think George should have gotten a 10 year sentence? Actually I said 10 to 15, but when you think about it 10 years is a long long time-George has been in 24 now-damn, how does he do it?? yup, You can try to answer that too. The judge said George was uncooperative and gave him the harshest of all sentences ALLOWABLE, LWOP-he plead guilty and knew nothing that they did’nt already know. how cooperative can one be?? They wanted George to “roll”-he had nothing to give them but his guilty plea-he was screwed. He knew, I know now, he needed to be punished for his crime, BUT, LIFE NO PAROLE – how can this happen in a country that prides itself on “justice” and freedoms?

George has had a “Commutation of Sentence” petition under concideration for 3 years or there about- Why does it take so long to get a yes or no answer? George is ready to come home and should be granted “time served”-if not, why doesn’t the White House or Pardon Attorney just say NO – this way George can pursue his next avenue of obtaining relief. How is it that I see cases out there where the “kingpin” was far more involved, and for much longer, yet have lighter sentences with hope?? How can ALL HOPE be takin away from someone guilty of a NON-VIOLENT crime?? This is nuts folks, or am I nuts??

I did not know George 24 years ago – but I know him today – he is ready for a second chance – he should be given that chance – he did not kill anyone – he took responsibility for his crime, he has served 24 years, he has educated himself, he has endured the deaths of his wife, his father, and his son, while imprisoned – he teaches other inmates, he’s published a book, I could go on and on, MY POINT IS…. When is enough, Enough??

I want to be safe out here – I want my 82 year old mother safe out here – I nor her or for this matter, no one is any safer because George Martorano is locked up, he is of no threat to society and has paid any and all debts to society for his crime – hell, he’s working on high interest now. I email, and mail the President, George Bush at the White House, and various other governement agencies with my support of freeing George, I ask that if you could just take 5 minutes, and send one for him too-it’s real easy, all you have to do is go to this address and express your support to release George with “TIME SERVED”… comments@whitehouse.gov.

PS (If your not going to take the 5 minutes to do that, could you take 2 minutes to tell me why at… webelievegroup@msn.com. Thanx