Trying to stay positive in an environment that constantly tries to break your will to live is very hard, especially when inmates around only know how to complain but never try to see the brighter side of any situation. recently here at USP Thomson, we underwent a very trying period. an unjustified lockdown and prison-wide shakedown in which 400 inmates were put into the shu for various reasons. personal property that we have been allowed to possess was taken from us for no reason other that to push us to the breaking point. But the fact that none of us here chose to retaliate in a fashion that would keep us in a disciplinary position in the eyes of the new warden, who came from Lompoc California with the idea that he could change this place into a medium-security prison from a low-security prison, has given me hope that we as a “community” are not of the ilk to give in to our base desires and prove him right. we have earned the right to be here at a low-security prison by behaving ourselves. even though the staff here do not see us as human beings, only numbers, to be treated as less than human, for whatever purpose, goes to show the BOP at large that we deserve the right to be treated as human beings. it saddens me that the federal government would allow such mistreatment to continue at this institution which should serve the United States as a rehabilitating environment so we could rejoin society as fully functioning citizens that would contribute to the betterment of our nation. I love America and everything it stand for regardless of my imprisonment. and I believe given the chance all inmates whatever the culture background, religion, race, or personal beliefs, can become a better person if nurtured to grow into a better person through the influence and encouragement of the staff who has been given the opportunity to help us, their fellow American citizens and fellow human beings. we all deserve a chance to better ourselves whether we are on this side of the fence or that side of the fence.
