You know we all sometimes sit back and things come to mind
that make us happy and of course sad as well. Sometimes there are
things that make us cringe. Last night I received a letter from an
old childhood friend. I think I have not heard from her in over 10
years, I was so happy to hear from her because when I moved
to my New York City residence, she was the really first friend I had.
She brought back plenty of memories which in turn made me reflect on a lot
of my past life in general.
Being incarcerated on Texas's infamous death row, one has plenty of time
to reflect and think about things. A lot of "what ifs" run through
a person's mind. Some sit back and think of better ways to perfect
their crime and this is just a simple reality of prison and criminals. I
call it reflecting but I look forward to the future and I always wonder what
I would do and how would I do it to reach out to people and help them.
Funny, I am in dire need of help and I am on death row but I always
think of helping others! My friends, I make the teary eyed because other
health and safety ar my main concern when I am down here fighting the state
and not trying to get killed down here.
When I really do reflect , I reflect on where I came from and then I know
why I am like I am in helping people! I come from direct poverty.
I was raised in government housing. I didn't have much but what
I had I cherished like it was the best in the world. My mother, sweet
lady did her best for a young man like myself. She died, I died right
along with her. Then there are people in my life then that are
still there that had major influence on my life and these people I never
forget. Drugs, gangs and guns, all that was a everyday norm but even
though it was a everyday norm, I really didn't fall victim to it until my
older years. Besides that, I reflect on the best times I ever had because
even though we had it tough, I still had a blast because it seems that the
less you have the mote unity that there is. The more unity the more
fun you find yourself having. Simple fun you know?
A lot of people are not happy when poverty strikes but lets really
ask one another something and see if you car really answer it. Can money and
riches bring happiness? My open and honest opinion is
NO!
Not only that issue but money can't bring my money back! I cringe
at this thought: money can't bring me happiness but justice has a
price! Poor politics strikes everyday and then you have people that
cannot become free or can not gain the proper attention that is needed to
save their life. Not just in the judicial system by the way but justice
in the simple term is of life. Life is terribly unfair and
everyone knows this. One thing we must realize that even though it
isn't fair, it is life period. My reflection always leads me back
to this every time.
My reflection doesn't have a grand design to it. No specific purpose
either for me to write this but hopefully reflect a picture in your frame
of mind that can possibly be developed into a positive life force. We
all have thoughts, wishes and aspirations. The Thought process is
the greatest factor to becoming pious and wise because without it we become
exactly like poor politicians. Don't understand? Playing of the mental
mistakes of ignorance of other people to become in power of any situation,
that's poor politics and the politicians that do the politicking.
But before I do go back to racking my brain with my thoughts and reflections.
I do not want to leave you something to think about and that is; look
at your reflection. Are you satisfied with what you see? Get
out, get up and do something about it. Don't sit around and think selfish
thoughts of self righteousness but think in selflessness and go out there
and do something in a positive life. You never know what can happen
and who you will touch and maybe when you come back you will see a set of
different thoughts that stick to one topic (smile)!
I'll be back at you soon.
Peace-God- Solidarity,
Hasaan Baz'l Shakoor
© Copyright 2002 Hasaan Baz'il Shakoor
Hasaan
on prison conditions