Joe,

Greetings from Harris County. We are now into Lent, a time of fasting and atonement. I now have orange and white stripes on my uniform brought to us from the Bob Barker Company, prison supplier extrordinaire.

It is very disappointing that I will most likely not see Butner, N.C. However I am counting my blessings in the new atmosphere. During the physical I found that I lost around 20 pounds from my 3 months stay in Muscogee. Food is better and the guards, despite there still being oppressors for the state, are very respectful.

This week we had the reading of Isaish 58. It brought me joy to read. Seemed to be a reading of what we should be about.

"This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly... Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke..."

With so many oppressed around the world so we can live like we do, the work done and our imprisonment seems to be proper for the season. I have been very hopeful. Since I have been expoed to the droning of the TV these past months I have seen signs. Even in Pop culture on MTV andVH1 songs against war and empire as well as artists speaking out have hit the waves. I don't think the popular culture had been permiated since Vietnam. The current regime has become more unpopular than popular and smokescreens are getting set up to attempt to mislead the religious to a conservative agenda by focusing attention on nonissues such as Gay Marriage and not jobs, economy and gov't falsehoods. Blowing away the smoke are those such as Greenspan who are willing to say exactly what is needed to carry on the current trend and Americans, rightfully, are afraid.

But now is the time that we need to continue to witness. Bush and the conservative agenda is beset with millions of dollars to trick the public. We can't let that happen. The truth needs to be on every editorial page in the country. The truth is weapons manufacturers are making a fine mint out of our dead soldiers and channeling some back to the reelection campaign. Don't let the prosecutioin of Martha Stewart make you think white-collar crime is being fought. The Pentagon gets legal waivers.

Enjoy the spots of hope, work the spots of darkness, sing and dance. God's kingdom is here; it just needs to be expanded.

Thanks for all the support, Joe. As much as I would love to see a camp, my time in Muscogee is done. Let us keep in prayers those still there and let us call attention to not only the inhumane conditions but also the emotional battering done daily by its staff. Prison witness also includes witnessing the prison. Thanks for helping me share that.

In Joy,
Gary Ashbeck

Joe,

Thanks for the letter. I am well. I am preparing for Lent. I think we all could use a period of introspection and atonement. I'm trying to figure out what that means for me in my present surroundings.

As always there are the distractions. The dorm has been getting rather crazy. Some the young ones were wrestling and the guards went into fight mode. It amazes me how the guards always demand so much respect but yet get as total bullies and use the most disrepectful language towards us. I feel sorry for them them because it appears that the only thing they run off is intimidation and power which really is just personal emptiness.They certainly are just as much prisoners as we are. There was a bit of entertainment for everyone. When they suspect a fight they check our bodies for marks and if they find any they get punished. They only go for the ones they think were in the fight. This time I was among those "inspected" which thoroughly entertained everyone since everyone thinks I am a preacher and would be the last one that should be suspected.

I received the "judgment" in the mail last week. Despite what Hn. Faircloth led me to believe, there were no instructions from the judge to the B.O.P. recommending transfer to Butner. So I sent a letter expressing my hurt and disappointment to Hn. Faircloth. I explained that although I'm not surprised by the falsehoods that abound the system, I don't want to lose that feeling of hurt when it happens, otherwise I would be jaded. Again I think as a prisoner of the system we need to embrace the weakness with love.

I am not sure if I will be moved out. I did send a letter to the B.O.P. about wanting to go to Butner. I do have a group in here that I feel very comfortable with but few that don't put out that "front." I find that difficult since it is hard to register how the actually feel. But I think jail makes many of the young (whom I see putting on a "front") need, or feel they need, to put that out to feel secure. I don't see it as much in the older guys.

It seems like they plan to prosecute the sherrif's deputy who shot an unarmed man a spell ago. He has been fired. We still joke about the new Klan, getting rid of the white sheets and putting on suits and uniforms. It is something my Black companions have known for years.

I am just starting working on food sanitation issues here. Keeping meals at safe temperatures, not having hair in meals, and keeping food on clean surfaces, all of which are things they fail miserably at here. I have been blessed with many of the folks passing juice on to me as I can't drink the milk (good thing too, since sometimes it has come spoiled). They happily dispose of the food that I can't eat, but it's not an exchange thing in an economy sense, nothing is exchanged.

Thanks for the continued support. I'm on the downside now.

Blessings,
Gary