The Crib
 Working to Maintain and Improve Living Conditions for Death Row in Florida
Newsletter December, 2003 |
The Crib
Christmastime beyond its religious meaning, which we are not going to discuss in this brief article, undoubtedly represents one of the most important traditions of the world. In fact lights, colors, decorations, wishes cards, typical music and songs already weeks in advance remind us of such a celebration to come and guide us into that amazing atmosphere of waiting and expectations.
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Beside fantastic shop-windows, pipers playing their typical bagpipes, roast chestnuts vendors at all streets corners, Christmas eve dinners with panettone and pandoro (two very typical Christmas cakes), midnight Mass and of course the unfailing presents under the Christmas tree, in Italy the crib (PRESEPIO) is the most picturesque tradition ever.
The term "presepio" comes from Latin praesepium and means just crib, stable, place where the tradition hands down to us that Jesus has been laid down the night he was born. Still today in Bethlehem we can see the stable where Mary and Joseph found shelter for the delivery since there was no place for them in any inn. The Evangelists Luke and Matthew first wrote about Jesus' birth, which we celebrate on the 24th / 25th of December at midnight and represent through the crib until the 6th of January, day when we recall the Magi's arrival from the Far East.I am going to talk about them in the next newsletter though.
The allegoric (al) representation of a divine event such as Jesus' birth struck the fantasy of the Palaeochristians helping them to comprehend the mystery of a God, who became man to live and die among men. We can see such sacred scenes painted for instance in Peter's and Domitilla's catacombs in Rome. From the IV century the Nativity becomes a constant theme in the religious ichnography and very famous art painters as Giotto, Piero Della Francesca, Perugino, Rubens just to mention a few of them, reproduced it giving it evocative atmosphere and symbology that such an event itself already offers us.
The origins of the crib with statuettes as we now a days use to represent the nativity, seem to come from Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/82 - 1226), who decided to show Jesus' birth in a natural environment, as close and as real as possible to Bethlehem original scenario. And on the Holy Night 1223 with Pope Onorio III's permission, in a cave in Greccio, a very small town near Rome, with the participation of local population, he donated to the posterity the first live crib, a sort of holy drama (skillfully painted by Giotto, whose fresco is still preserved in the Superior Basilica in Assisi) followed then by other similar representations such as Mary's Annunciation, Magi's Adoration, Via Crucis, and so on.
To see the first inanimate crib we need to go back probably the year 1280, which belonged to Arnolfo di Cambio, with sculptured in wood statuettes, still preserved in the crypt of the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. So every Italian region started to prepare traditional local cribs, adding to the essential characters such as the Infant, the Madonna and Saint Joseph who on their knees seem to admit and worship Jesus' divine nature, new other symbolic characters. From humble shepherds with their cattle to represent the humanity in front of God, to the angels as examples of superior creatures to different and picturesque landscapes to adorn the scenario. Unfortunately because of the fragile material of some of the statuettes, made in plaster or terra-cotta, many interesting pieces went lost in the past. Some of these cribs in fact are real masterpieces still preserved in museums where the public can see them anytime of the year. Now a days in every Italian house at Christmastime, beside the more commercial Christmas tree, under which we position the presents Santa Claus is supposed to bring us (and this is a Northern Celtic tradition), every family would spend an entire day to prepare its own crib, which will be removed only after the 6th of January, when the Magi will arrive in Bethlehem with their gifts to visit the Infant.
So … Merry Christmas then and a happy New Year too! God bless..... Angela.
News From the Inside
Message about the heat issue
We received this from the Florida justice institute. If anyone is interested in a copy of the brief, send a note and we will get it to you.
"Thanks for the most recent newsletter. Attached is the Reply Brief in Chandler, the death row heat case. We have not received notice if the 11th Circuit has granted oral argument or when. It could decide the case on the briefs, or grant oral argument. If oral argument is granted, and I suspect it will as both sides requested it, the appeal will not be decided until after it is heard. That's all for now."
Greeting cards and CD's
We still have a lot of Christmas cards and some greeting cards left.. And CD's if you wish to get some.
If you wish to send one of the cards including the CD to a loved one for Christmas, let us know. We cannot sent the cards to you for obvious reasons, but if you sent us a self addressed stamped envelope (so we can inform you when it has been sent,) 5 stamps to cover the shipping, and a note to put inside the card or write inside the card to your loved one, we should be set to go. Just be sure to do it in good time before Christmas. If you only wish to receive some greeting cards in Spanish we have some available of those too.
The cards with the CD's are in Spanish but 4 of the CD's are with English lyrics so everyone can do this.
What should have been a warm seasonal message of love this month has turned into a message we hope everyone will listen to. As you will later read in this month's edition, there have been several news articles printed about Aramark food service and the lack of quality and quantity they provide. FDRAG and several other concerned groups are working to try to improve your meals, but we need your help. It has come to our attention that many of you simply do not file on the rotten food when served to you. And, although we do understand that this frequently is a useless effort when no action is taken on your grievances, we want to urge you to file, file, and file again. If your meal tray is cold, file a grievance. If food is rotten or raw, file a grievance. Send us your complaints and a copy of your replies. We need to have evidence that you ARE filing against Aramark's constantly inferior, spoiled food. Currently Aramark states they are unaware of any complaints against their food, and we all know this isn't true. Some of you are filing, and filing often, but we need more of you to help us let them know how disgusting their meals are. Please take action and file when meals are substandard.
The second issue we want to mention is the increasing incidents of abuse at FSP. Without mentioning names or any specific details at this time, we just want you to all be aware that we have received complaints and are working on the best way to have this investigated by the proper authorities. As outraged as we are by the abuse, we are equally concerned for the safety of those involved and targeted. This makes a very fine line we have to walk, as I'm sure you can all appreciate. The reason for even mentioning this is to again ask for everyone's help. If you know of mistreatment, help your neighbor out by letting someone know. Be a voice if he can't speak on his own behalf. If you have filed a grievance and not gotten any help, please send us a copy and a copy of the response so we can try to help you. There is no excuse for this behavior, and there's no reason why any of you have to feel alone and helpless if put in this situation.
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It's hard for us to sit down to a traditional holiday dinner and enjoy the fellowship of good friends and family when you, our friends and family behind the walls, are subjected to spoiled food and abuse. There can be no true joy for us, if there is no cause for joy with you. Please help us to improve your quality of life. Let us all work together to make this a true season of peace on earth and good will towards men. All men. Please.
- written by Dianne
Foul food sickening prisoners, group claims
By Associated PressPublished November 8, 2003
RAIFORD - State prison officials deny allegations that death row inmates are being sickened by rotten food. Prison officials received complaints from 26 death row inmates in Raiford about the noon meal last Saturday, but the allegations are "baseless and untrue," Sterling Ivey, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections in Tallahassee, said Friday. While the meal containing beef, onions, squash and oranges was not pleasant to smell, Ivey said there was nothing wrong with the food. A group working to better conditions on death row disagrees." The latest report we got was from death row, telling us the food stunk so bad that they could not eat it," said Hannah Floyd, of the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group." These are human beings. They must eat. And recently they are being left with the choice to either eat and get sick, or go hungry to bed," Floyd said. Warden Paul Decker, who was at the prison Saturday, went to the kitchen to check on the meal and decided there was nothing wrong, officials said. The entire 1,800-inmate prison ate the meal as well as the prison staff, and no one reported getting sick. Floyd also said Aramark, the company that provides food services to Florida inmates, had cut the size of the portions so that inmates are going hungry. But Ivey said the most recent contract with the company called for an increase in the size of portions served to inmates.
Government, Aramark Inc. Lied About Rotten Food
Is Aramark in Violation Of Its Contract?
A Joint Press Release From FADP AND FDRAG, 19 November 2003
Evidence has come to light indicating that the Florida Department of Corrections appears to have hidden written documents about recent food services problems in Florida's death row prisons from Governor Jeb Bush's office and senior management/investigators of Aramark Correctional Services. Aramark provides food services in many of Florida's prisons, including the prisons housing Florida's male death row population. The Florida Death Row Advocacy Group (FDRAG) is in possession of actual grievance responses received by prisoners in which prison officials acknowledge the problem and make statements such as "This will not happen again. From now on if you are served a bad item by mistake it will be replaced." Other grievance responses simply dismiss the complaint with a denial of any problem.
Scanned images of some of the complaint forms in FDRAG's possession may be seen at http://www.FDRAG.org .
In responding to activists inquiring about reports indicating that rotten food has been served to prisoners as recently as November 1, 2003, Aramark's public relations department claims that there is no record of *any* complaint about the food by *any* prisoner in recent weeks. "We simply cannot find the source of the information," said Debbie Albert, Associate Vice President of ARAMARK Corporate Communications, in a response sent to FADP. Governor Bush's boiler-plate response simply outlines the grievance procedure. And yet, there is a paper trail. Who is lying? (See responses from Bush and Aramark - below.)
"The prisoners are sending these forms to us," said Hannah Floyd, of the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group. "Some of the complaints were responded to by prison workers who agree that there was a problem and seem genuinely concerned. And then the machine takes over, and that's when we see the standard denials. But now we have the paper trail that proves that the prison management is deliberately covering up this problem. They're lying."
"If Aramark and Governor Bush's office are to be believed, then they are also being lied to by the DOC," said Abe Bonowitz, director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. "Aramark claims there are no records of any prisoner complaints, but we have them in hand. It seems that DOC policy is to lie to everyone from the public to the vendors, and even to the office of the Governor. I can't believe that Jeb Bush condones this behavior."
Members of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty and the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group have been calling on Governor Jeb Bush to investigate Aramark's poor record of providing substandard food services in Florida prisons, and to correct the situation immediately. They have also been calling on Aramark to correct the situation. Below are standard replies as received by activists:
FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR JEB BUSH
From: "Philmore, Ebony O." philmore.ebony@mail.dc.state.fl.us
To: **************
Subject: FW: Food service at Union Correctional Institution
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2003 15:20:26 -0500
Governor Bush asked me to thank you for your message and let you know that he is always pleased to hear from a concerned citizen. You wrote regarding the food service operations within the Florida Department of Corrections.
The Department has designed and implemented a comprehensive evaluation system that closely monitors the food service activities. This process involves daily documentation of all meals served throughout the department and periodic unannounced on-site inspections by professional field personnel.
The incidents that you bring to light in your letter are all relative to time and location. Without more specific information of when, where and what incident is in question, further review is unrealistic.
The Florida Department of Corrections Rule 33-103 Inmate Grievances provides a formal and effective method for inmates to air their grievances and/or request information. The purpose of the grievance procedure is to provide the inmate with a channel for the administrative settlement of a legitimate grievance and/or record official responses.
In addition to providing the inmate with the opportunity of having a grievance heard and considered through official channels, this procedure assists the department by providing a means for the internal resolution of problems and improving lines of communication. The procedure also provides an official written record in the event of subsequent judicial or administrative review.
Inmates should utilize this formal and established procedure of Rule 33-103 Inmate Grievances for best results.
Again, thank you for writing.
Sincerely,
Ebony Philmore
Citizens' Services Administrator
Office of Citizens Service
From Aramark
Subject: Per Father Mark Niznik
Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2003 11:49:42 -0500
From: "Albert, Debbie" Albert-Debbie@aramark.com
To: fadp@fadp.org
I have just spoken with Father Mark Niznik about the alleged incidents with foodservice to inmates on death row at two of Florida's correctional facilities and he suggested I contact you directly to correct the misinformation you may have received.
After receiving a call on Friday, senior staff within ARAMARK Correctional Services began looking into the allegations. That investigative work continued throughout the weekend. We found that not one inmate registered any complaints about foodservice at either of those facilities in the past several weeks. We simply cannot find the source of the information.
May I assure you that we take any allegations about our foodservices anywhere very seriously. If you have specific names and dates of incidents, I would be interested in seeing them. Other than that, I can assure you that we do our very best to provide the best foodservice possible to inmates throughout the US.
Debbie Albert
Associate Vice President
ARAMARK Corporate Communications
Message from FADP
Greetings all,When Hannah told me about the recent problem with the food, my first inclination was to call the media. Hannah rejected that idea as they needed more info, so I said "OK, we'll wait."
Message to all from Rudy
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Rudolf with his new wife
But the very next morning, I had a gut feeling that we were missing an opportunity. This was confirmed when I was filling my gas tank in Starke and I had a conversation with a CO who was filling his tank on the other side of the pump.
As I drove, I called Hannah, and by mid-afternoon we had an action out to activists, and a press release to the media. By 6:30, the Associated Press had it on the wires. The Department of Corrections had to answer questions, and the best part is that because of a few of you who filled out grievances and had them returned to you with contradictory responses, we caught them with their pants down -- lying to the public, the governor's office, and Aramark.
Unfortunately, our second press release has not yet been picked up, but we are still working on it.
The important thing is that some of you took the risks to get the word out to FDRAG, and in cooperation with FADP, we were able to take some action.
We can never fully understand the risks you take to tell what is happening inside, but please understand that every time an issue of concern comes up, we are faced with the challenge: " Can we believe this - are we being used." What makes it easier for us to raise your issues is when we have reports from a number of individuals -- Some telling us of the problem first hand, and others who say "I saw that happen to someone else..." And documentation like the grievance reports is like gold. If you don't get answers to the grievances anymore then CC the grievance to the Governors office.
There can be no promises that we can act every time, or that we will ever be successful, but know for certain that we will do our best. Only together can we be successful.
As we get into the "holiday" season, I wish you and yours a safe, healthy, and productive new year…
Abe--
Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa, the African-American cultural holiday conceived and developed by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, was first celebrated on December 26, 1966. Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated from December 26 through January 1, with each day focused on Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles. Derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits", Kwanzaa is rooted in the first harvest celebrations practiced in various cultures in Africa. Kwanzaa seeks to enforce a connectedness to African cultural identity, provide a focal point for the gathering of African peoples, and to reflect upon the Nguzo Saba, or the seven principles, that have sustained Africans. Africans and African-Americans of all religious faiths and backgrounds practice Kwanzaa. The development of Kwanzaa assumed a reassessment, reclaiming, recommitment, remembrance, retrieval, resumption, resurrection, and rejuvenation of the "Way of Life" principles recognized by African-Americans. Today, Kwanzaa is recognized by millions throughout America and the world. It is celebrated often in community settings provided by homes, churches, mosques, temples, community centers, schools, and places of work.
Art and Poetry
How to keep it strong"You can write me a lovely letterAnd tell me you miss me, How you want to hold onto me And squeeze me and kiss me. You can tell me how it seems--- You haven't heard from me in a while, Even though it was just yesterday--- You received one that made you smile. And when you've had a rough day And things just didn't go your way, You can remember the P.S. in my letter--- Where I reminded you to pray. And when your thanking God Almighty For the strength to conquer fear, You can thank Him for my love for you Because it will always be there. And when you're thinking of me tonight And you feel the warmness in the middle, You can cherish the fact that I'm feeling it, too, With my arms around the pillow. You can tell those who are wondering--- About how we've lasted so long, That this simple poem is just a sample On how to keep it strong. Kindly submitted by Anthony Mungin |
Donated By Mercy
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Please remember we still need the "logo" for our Web page and the front page to the newsletter- and of course keep sending us poetry and art work.
The FDRAG Share-A-Book Program
Each month, FDRAG will collect book wishes from the readers of our Newsletter.
In order to submit a book wish, simply fill out the form below, 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 shoe-string budget we ask that you pass on your book when you're done reading it.
Share-A-BookName:DOC: Housing:Author:Title: |
How the Christmas Tradition Got Started
Santa was very cross. It was Christmas Eve and NOTHING was going right. Mrs. Claus had burned all the cookies. The elves were complaining about not getting paid for the overtime they had accrued while making the toys. The reindeer had been drinking all afternoon and were dead drunk. To make matters worse, they had taken the sleigh out for a spin earlier in the day and had crashed it into a tree.
Santa was furious. "I can't believe it! I've got to deliver millions of presents all over the world in just a few hours, but all of my reindeer are drunk, the elves are on strike, and I don't even have a Christmas tree! I sent that stupid Little Angel out HOURS ago to find a tree, and he isn't even back yet! What am I going to do?"
Just then, the Little Angel opened the front door and stepped in from the snowy night, dragging a Christmas tree. He says, "Yo, fat man! Where do you want me to stick the tree this year?"
And thus the tradition of angels atop the Christmas trees came to pass.
FDRAG & MEMBERSHIP
This group is created by families and friends of death row inmates in Florida. It is a given that this group is against Capital punishment. It is however, not the purpose for this group to do anti-death penalty work, instead this group concentrates on making the living conditions for death row inmates 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. If you are looking for a group who does anti-death penalty work, we suggest you join one of the excellent groups already up and running. For further information please contact a member near you:
USA
Hannah Floyd, (Can be contacted for info on newsletter, membership, visiting,
places to stay, transport etc.)
137 N Walnut St, #14
Starke, FL 32091
E-mail: Hannahfloyd@yahoo.com
Tel: 904-964-4303 or 904 964 7303
Janice Figueroa
1120 Wild Oak Terrace
Deland, FL. 32720
E-mail: Tfigu@aol.com
Tel: 386-738-3968
Karin Elsea, (Contact person for the DC/Maryland area)
1400 East West Highway, #710
Silver Spring, MD 20910
E-mail: Karinelsea@hotmail.com
Tel: 301-565-3246
Dianne Abshire
9673 State Rt 65
Ottawa, OH 45875
E-mail: afua@woh.rr.com
Tel: 419-523-5816
(Can also be contacted re: legal matters for the attention of Florida Support Group)
The Netherlands
Jolanda Arends, Treilerstraat 168
NL - 1503 JM Zaandam
E-mail: jolanda-arends@zonnet.nl
Tel: +31-75-616-4862
(FDRAG membership and info pack)
Florida Death Row Advocacy Group114856 SE 25th AvenueStarke Florida 32091
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