Florida Death Row Advocacy Group

I am fully aware that my many eager readers (actually, two) will probably recall (but knowing you, you won’t) that I had promised to write about the Republican Convention, which starts this month, in New York. However, a few days ago, Miss Hannah came into my office and informed me that the deadline for this issue of the newsletter had been changed; furthermore she informed me that this time she did not want me to say anything which in any way might be interpreted as disparaging about the current administration, because this issue of the newsletter was going to be distributed to a wider audience, some of whom she felt might not approve. Though I find myself at a complete loss as to what she could possibly mean, her argument was so compelling that all I could do was to nod in agreement! After she removed the duct tape, and put the shotgun back in the closet I breathed a sigh of relief that she completely forgot to mention anything about the Bat Shit Veterans for Bush Swift Boat Veterans for Truth who have dominated so much of the news this month. This group has published a book, “Unfit for Command”, and two TV ads in which they seek to discredit John Kerry’s service record in the Vietnam war, much in the manner of similar past efforts against John McCain and Max Cleland. Aside from the administration refusing to condemn the ads, which have been called “dishonest and dishonorable” by John McCain (a Republican), the average voter might be forgiven for somehow missing how ads discussing the Vietnam war are supposed to provide current solutions - especially if those voters have noticed lately that the occupation in Iraq isn’t exactly going as swimmingly as expected, and the jobs which were supposed to be created by those tax cuts benefiting the richest Americans have somehow failed to materialize. August was also the month Charley wreaked a path of destruction through Florida. Our Governor commented thus on the occasion: “This is God’s way of showing us that he’s almighty and we’re mortal.” Mark Kleiman, a professor at UCLA, had a few appropriate remarks, which I quote at length – just so you cannot say that you never read anything intelligent in this column: “Does he really worship a Moloch who kills a bunch of people every once in a while just to show Who’s Boss?.... In the very same breath the Governor uses to express humility in the face of the failure

of computer models to guess which way the hurricane would head, he seems to express confidence that he, Jeb Bush (whether by direct inspiration or by the power vested in him by the people of Florida), knows why the hurricane was sent to wreak such havoc, and that what he knows is that it was an intentional act of --- well, can you think of a better word for it that “terrorism”? – On the part of an omnipotent and (allegedly) beneficent Deity. How does he know? And why does he worship such a cruel God? Does he think cruelty is the basic expression of power?” Indeed! And of course, it seems that Jeb forgot to read his bible, which tells us that God “was not in the wind” [1Kings 19] Sometimes, when politics and religion become mixed up, the strangest things happen. Starting this month, I’ll introduce you to a website* which makes fun of some items being marketed by some people of the extreme rightwing variety, whose mission is to convince the rest of us that God would vote for a certain President who shall remain nameless because Miss Hannah has a large supply of duct tape, and I have only a limited supply of fur. So let’s begin by featuring what the website refers to as “cutting-edge End Times witnessing tools for those who would exploit Christianity for various acts of wing nuttery and profit” --- The t-shirt. “The caption reads: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” Unseen text on the back reads: “But since that didn’t work, I swallowed my cross.”“ *) Thanks to Pete from “The Dark Window.” The Dark Window Taking into consideration the mentioned strict limitations imposed by Miss Hannah, I’ll end this month’s bloviating by letting the White House official pool report (as cited by the Washington Times this month) say it all, really: President Bush stopped for about 20 minutes at the Cady Cheese Factory and Shoppe … near Wilson, Wisconsin. He toured the factory briefly, urging his host, Dale Marcott, to tell him what they do. Their conversation was hard to hear, but essentially Marcott told the president they make cheese… Yours truly… R. Udeasheck

Share-a-book program…

Each month, FDRAG will collect book/magazine wishes from the readers of our Newsletter. In order to submit a book wish, simply fill out the form, send it to FDRAG and your book may be one of the 10 book titles, which will be drawn each month, and purchased via Amazon.com….Because we want this program to benefit as many as possible on our shoestring budget, we ask that you pass on your book when you’re done reading it.

NAME: DOC: Cell Location: Author: Title:

FDRAG & MEMBERSHIP USA This group is created by families and friends of death row prisoners in Florida. It is a given that this group is against Capital punishment, however, this group concentrates on making the living conditions for death row prisoners tolerable. We also commit to work on making changes that will improve the quality of living in that particular environment called Death Row, and to help keeping the standard that already exists. Everyone who is willing to work for basic human rights is welcome. For further information please contact a member near you: Hannah Floyd, 137 N Walnut St Apt 10, Starke Florida, 32091 Tel: (904) 964 4303 Email: hannahfloyd@yahoo.com Dianne Abshire, if you need help to find a friend 9673 State Rt. 65 Ottawa Ohio, 45875 Tel: (419) 523-5816 Email: afua@who.rr.com

Miscellaneous Questions R. Udeasheck. Also at FDRAG’S location, we will then forward the mail to the rude creature. The Information package For inside the USA contact: Karin Elsea 1400 East West Highway #710 Silver Spring, MD 20910 For some Christian fellowship contact: Chris C/O Grace community fellowship P.O. Box 1072 Starke Fl. 32091 He is looking forward to your letter. Information package overseas Jolanda Arends Treiler Straat 168 NL-1503 JM Zaandam Email: Jolanda-arends@zonnet.nl +31-75-616-48 Greeting cards etc,,,,!!!!!! Please address requests to Above-mentioned Karin, Dianne or Hannah

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Questions of the month!

How can some people, hired by the DOC to protect the public and the prisoners, feel it is their right to abuse their power and HURT what they are paid to protect?…How can a group of grown men find any kind of pleasure in beating up a fellow human being after fully restraining him, and making sure he in no way shape or form can protect let alone defend himself? …. How can anyone beat and kick a helpless defenseless man unconscious one day, and go to church the next? How do they show one human being nothing but disrespect and utter contempt, and believe they can raise their children to be decent caring citizens?…HOW IN HEAVENS NAME can one group of people get paid to perform especially henious, atrocious, AND cruelpunishment – by the same society who send people to death row for similar crimes?…How can nurses and doctors, paid by society to heal and do good, get away with, and live with themselves, covering violent crimes that should be punished?…How can one woman (secretary) be so insensitive to another woman’s plea for information, that she is willing to lie to protect the violent offenders?…How can a woman refuse to help a mother who just wants to know if her baby is still alive and okay? Why are so many so eager to cover up violence and criminal behavior, while feeling it is A-OKAY because they are just dealing with men who

committed violent crimes!… It is totally and utterly shameful that all these PUBLIC servants who have such a responsibility and are being shown so much trust, are lying through their teeth to protect themselves and their peers…. It is not only shameful and pitiful, it is totally unacceptable… This happened at UCI mid-August, and not in Iraq as some might think! Our hearts go out, not only to you who have to endure this kind of evil being behind the bars, but also to the men and women working for the DOC who are decent human beings and having to live with this everyday. An awesome man of God told us in church today that SIN really means: “To miss the mark” –and in light of that, I think it is safe to say that the handful of men who beat up ONE defenseless fellow human being, totally and utterly and indeed missed the mark. Let me end this of with a martin Luther King quote: “The greatest sin of our time is not the few who have destroyed but the vast majority who’ve sat idly by.” Churches are praying for protection over all of you. Be blessed …..Hannah

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