DannyBoyinExile

The inmates of today’s TDCJ find no shortage of things to complain about, but many of them don’t realize just how good they’ve got it – or how far the TDCJ administration is willing to go to make things better.
I recently attended a drug rally (I mean, a STOP the drugs rally) here on Wynne Unit. The event is fairly new to TDCJ, and it was only the second one we’ve ever had on this unit. I was surprised they had it at all – because we were currently on lockdown for the annual shakedown! Once upon a time, you wouldn’t even get a visit during lockdown, much less hundreds of inmates and dozens of visitors gathering in the chapel.
Some people hate to give ANY credit to our administration, but that’s foolish. For one thing, if I’m not up to anything I shouldn’t be, I don’t have to worry about the administration bothering me, as they have no reason to pay me the slightest bit of attention. Well, except for the fact that I’m so handsome that I tend to stand out, just walking down the hallway… (just kidding!) But events of this kind simply wouldn’t happen without our Wardens and Majors MAKING them happen.
When I glanced at the inmates gathered in the chapel, I couldn’t help but look at their scruffy appearances (complete with shaggy hair, dirty clothes, and burned fingertips) who were so obviously drug users that I felt they’d be more at home in lockup than in the chapel – but in all honesty, these are the inmates who need programs like this the most. And if there are events like this for them to attend, many of them will – which is far more constructive than staying on their wings and smoking anything they can get their hands on.
They were so serious about this event (the administration, I mean, not the crackheads) that it was attended by the Wardens from EVERY UNIT IN THIS REGION, as well as other visitors such as Directors of various departments. Looking at so much of TDCJ’s highest rank (ahem… no pun intended), some of the guys may have secretly wished for a hand grenade – but I was impressed that they assembled so many dignitaries who obviously have many other things to do. But they are throwing their weight behind programs such as these – and I for one appreciate the effort.
There were also several guest speakers, who had all spent years in TDCJ, cleaned their acts up – and got released to the free world. These were people we could relate to, as they’ve overcome their addictions and criminal lifestyles, which leaves the in-your-face message that if they did it, the rest of us can too.
I saw some guys in the audience who started out with sarcasm and heckling – but even they absorbed the message. A few of them ended up with glassy eyes that weren’t due to the drugs for a change!
I also reaffirmed my commitment to changing my lifestyle. Of course, I’d already quit doing drugs, so the only way for me to change was to get back on them! (just kidding) The program was beneficial to me as well, because I realized that I too have lessons I can share with people. I can also encourage and motivate people with my own example – and I could even BE one of those guys on the stage, at some point in the future.
In other words, you don’t have to be a drug user to benefit from programs like these – and you don’t have to be part of the TDCJ administration to take part in them. Most importantly, it was shown to us that they will trust us, to participate, and even go to bat for us, as long as we do our part. There is no reason for any of us to feel as if they don’t care about what happens to us – because they are blatantly showing us that they do. We just have to show them that we can BE trusted.
I am grateful for all the trouble they went through to make it happen, and I applaud any and every inmate who learned something from it. I ruined my life with drugs. But my whole life has changed since I decided to stop using them. I’m proud of myself for having the strength to stick with it, and I’d encourage anyone to do the same. It’s not hard to state using drugs. It’s only hard to MAKE UP YOUR MIND to. Once you do that, it’s over with. Don’t THINK about it, or TRY to – just do it. If I did it, and all those guys on the stage did it, anyone can. They just have to want to. So says DannyBoy.