Hotep,
Is it fair to not consider the feelings of others when we’re
feeling good about ourselves? Let’s be
honest, how many times have you felt good about something in your life and
inadvertently offended someone else? I
mean, a decent person wouldn’t intentionally throw their personal achievements
in the face of someone less fortunate, right?
Inside the box, something as routine as mail call can drive
the ‘uncalled name,’ into a state of disparity.
What do you do, refuse your mail? It wouldn’t matter, because this
particular individual would find another reason to loathe what he/she can’t
understand. It could be anything; a
consistent workout routine, regular visits, or maybe it’s just your display of
moxy when adversity is weighing others down.
Na mean?
Including myself, there are 23 residents living on Pod
6. The legislative ball of destruction
is steadily rolling toward resuming executions in the state of North
Carolina. If this ball continues to gain
momentum, there’s a strong possibility the Pod 6 population will be decimated
by the state’s crafty methods of resurrecting the death chamber.
There are several residents on Pod 6 who have exhausted
appeals. Simply put, a clemency hearing
from the governor is all they have left.
At this point, my environment is equivalent to a powder keg with a short
fuse. I watch the wick burn slowly from
a distance – anticipating a devastating explosion. SMH.
As a death row prisoner, feeling any sense of achievement or
attaining the positive mindset to live a meaningful existence can be a daily
struggle. My present circumstance calls
for me to be a fighter – standing tall in the metaphorical ring of life. My survival instincts are on full alert every
waking hour of the day. So authoring
this blog, as I grow as a writer, gives me a strong sense of achievement, which
makes me feel good about me. So I ask:
is it common to feel good about your life – knowing that someone in a similar
situation is nearing the end of his or her own?
Holla back. Please!
When death is near, each of us (People) deal with it the
best way we know how. The best way for
me to deal with death is to recognize that we’re all terminal. Whether we’re willing to admit it or not, we
all have our set time and place to leave this realm. Feel me?
Disregarding the potential demise of another wouldn’t be
conducive to my peace of mind. If I
don’t feel anything for these prisoners or 6 – despite what they may or may not
have done – what does that say about me?
I have to care. I’m made in the
image of my Creator. “Going for self”
can’t be my primary option.
The end is always near.
How a person chooses to address it, is what will be admired by the people
left behind. With that said, much
respect to Ms. Linda Belz. You used your
bout with ovarian cancer to achieve much more than was expected of you. I know your fam will find peace in your
transition. Your meaningful existence is
now legendary. Ya heard?
Being Who I Am,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2013 by Leroy Elwood Mann
