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Thank you for
your inspiring website and for all your work to free Jarvis Masters,
a wonderful human being whose articles I always read in Turning
Wheel. He is living proof of the transforming power of the Dharma
and—more importantly—of the fact that there are no 'good' or 'bad'
people; there are just causes and conditions that, in certain circumstances,
lead us to do horrible things to others and ourselves, and in other
instances, enable us to awaken to our true nature of interbeing
and oneness with all life, our capacity for loving kindness, wisdom,
and compassion.
You have my
undivided support and encouragement in your valiant efforts to seek
justice and mercy for this noble and inspiring Dharma practitioner
and teacher who, if freed from bondage, could bring great healing
to those who, raised amid deprivation, violence, and abuse, have
internalized that violence in themselves.
May our benighted
country awaken to its true self, abolish the death penalty, and
free Jarvis Masters!
T. E.
Hampton, VA
Recently I picked
up 'Finding Freedom' at a local bookshop, and I found it to be possibly
the most profoundly moving and inspirational book I have ever read.
Having spent the majority of my life drifting with no clear direction,
since reading Jarvis's book I have decided to return to study. After
all, if Jarvis can achieve peace, balance and harmony in the Hell
of San Quentin, surely I can earn a University degree!
The compassion and sensitivity that Jarvis has developed far outstrips
that of many people from more 'privileged' backgrounds. I am in
awe of this man who has been able to make such positive and life-affirming
changes. The fact that these changes have taken place in such an
inhospitable environment as Death Row is testament to the incredible
intelligence, strength and will that Jarvis possesses.
I have always had mixed feelings with regards to the death penalty,
but 'Finding Freedom' has certainly provided me food for thought.
What on earth could possibly be gained by killing Jarvis Jay Masters?
This is a well read, well spoken individual who, against odds incomprehensible
to most of us, has completely altered his actions, thoughts and
feelings.
I wish to add my voice to all the others who support and encourage
him.
M. B.
Melbourne, Australia
I
just discovered the web page for Jarvis and am relieved and grateful
for his advocates. I am a teacher in Chicago who is using "Finding
Freedom" in my English classes and have seen the lives of my students
transformed because of his powerful message. I was looking for a
way to contribute money to Jarvis's appeal campaign and have found
it. Thank you.
Teacher in
Chicago
The biographical
information on Jarvis's childhood in Melody Ermachild Chavis's introduction
to "Finding Freedom" is so magnificently written, so powerful, and
so horrific that I think it would make a valuable contribution to
this wonderful site.
W. G.
Punishment and
rehabilitation of condemned criminals can be changed by transforming
them into beneficial persons to the society and returning back the
kindness from the society. Volunteer work in ecological protection,
cleaning of public places, building and repairing public facilities
should be included in the judiciary system instead of capital punishment.
Society's forgiveness after ten to twenty years should be obtained
by death row inmates in order to free them from capital punishment.
Crimes are committed by ignorance, and shall be rectified by removing
ignorance.
A.W.
Singapore
I listened to the
radio program "The Execution Tapes" a few days ago and was struck
by the last words of some of the men. It seems that many of them have
learnt a lot about forgiveness and being human whilst waiting for
their execution and that they had a lot to offer the world after their
experiences of living with death. what a waste of opportunity for
learning and healing. Now, in no way do I support the death penalty,
but I wondered how much the fact of facing death had inspired people
to think about other ways of being and finding peace. I only mean
this for those who have been rightly convicted for crimes. Perhaps
it would be interesting to hear about peoples' inner changes whilst
serving life sentences.
K. T.
United Kingdom
It's a shame
that a country like the USA has still the death penalty. Many Americans
think that their country is the home of freedom and justice, but
if you know the situation in American prisons, it seems absolutely
perverted.
It's a shame that a man wants to become president of the USA who
is responsible for the most executions in his country. For me, as
European, I can't believe that a so called civilized" people like
the Americans agree with the death penalty.
Death penalty
is murder!
P. R.
Switzerland
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