Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 June 1993 — Page 3

The Muncie Times, Thursday, 3 June 1993, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Hello, my name is Donald Bernard Price. Most people in Muncie know me as Bernard. My reason for writing to The Muncie Times are that, I got my first chance to read this paper the other day. I'm presently incarcerated, but I have someone send me one, when they get the time. Anyway, to get to the real reason for my writing you, I was reading the paper and ran

across an article on African Americans knowing their heritage. I went to school their in Muncie and through grammar, middle and a portion of high school, I don't recall them teaching much about African Americans and their great accomplishments. Today our black youths are solely concentrating on superstars, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, etc ., which is really

OK. But I bet you can take a survey of our black youths today on what they would like to be, once they're grown up and 9 out of 10 are more likely to say an entertainer of some sort. The reason you'll get that count is because they're not being taught about the black heroes who were not athletes. I will name a few black heroes who were not in sports ... Ida B. Wells, Fannie Lou

Hammer, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Assata Shakur. I didn't hear of these names in high school. In fact, Ijustcame to know these names by studying, here in prison. I thought that, maybe, you could take and place a famous black person in your paper and speak on his or her accomplishments, such as the heroes I spoke of in this letter and give our black youths some ideals on career opportunities, be-

cause we don't have to be just entertainers, we can be astronauts, politicians, engineers, etc. Well, I'll close for now, but I thought maybe placing a few black heroes in your papers, would give our youths some ideals and ideas. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. Sincerely yours Bernard Price

Community urges Munsonians to join hands June 13 to battle racism

"... one universal Father hath given being to us all; and he hath not only made us all of one flesh, but he hath also, without partially, afforded us all the same sensations and endowed us all with the same faculties; and that, however, variable we may be in society or religion, however diversi-

fied in situation or color, we are all in the same family and stand in the same relation to

Him."

This was written by a black journalist named Benjamin Banneker in a letter to Thomas Jefferson in 1792. The basic truths of this letter are still true today.

The family of man is allinclusive. Sometimes society forgets this and violence and hate are the result. Let's put the animosity behind us and jointogethertowalkforunity. To celebrate Race Unity Day in Muncie, the Baha'is of Muncie would like to invite you to the Second Annual

Walk for Unity on June 13. Starting at the Courthouse Plaza at 2 p.m. we will wend our way through the downtown area and end at the City Hall at 3 p.m. where Deputy Mayor Walter Berry will read a proclamation making this a Day of Unity in Muncie. In the City Hall Audito-

rium, a program titled "Rhythms of Unity" will be

presented.

However diversified your situation or color, come join our ranks as we celebrate the unity of mankind. Rebecca Burkhart For the Baha'i community

of Muncie

Greencastle inmate disputes correctional officer's claims of low pay,

I would like to answer a letter printed in the Indianapolis Star, from a Correctional Officer at the Indiana State Farm, regarding the lack of pay raises afforded state employees and the courteous, professional treatment of inmates here at I.S.F. As far as other state employees are concerned, I'm sure they deserve pay raises for doing competent jobs. That is not the case here. As far as correctional officers pay is concerned, I’m sure they have a starting salary between 7 an $9 per hour. Along with that pay they also receive excellent benefits, medical, dental, and life insurance that other working citizens pay out of their own pockets and usually four times as much as state employees pay. I know this as fact, as 1 was once a state employee, myself.

As for this officer's statement that they are "overworked and understaffed," how many people does it require to stand around all day, spitting tobacco and harassing inmates? Two officers work in each dorm. Since we only go outside the dorm for work, meal, and recreation (and then only one dorm at a time) they spend the rest of their time doi ng nothing. Their role time actually costs us, the inmate, because when they have nothing to do they invariably turn to their favorite pastime and source of entertainment—harassing the inmates. This officer wrote, "we risk our lives daily." Don't make me laugh. The kind of prisoners housed here at I.S.F. don't have the courage to scratch when they itch. This is not the Pendleton Reformatory, or Michigan City, or Lucasville, Ohio. The inmates here are like rabbits in the

foxes' den. The guards are the foxes. Don't make any mistake about this, at the Indiana State Farm the guards are the predators and the inmates are the victims. Gangs? What gangs is this officer speaking of? I have been here for 8 months now and I have yet to see anything that vaguely resembles a gang, or even an organized group of more than two. I can’t believe the pure crap of this so called upstanding citizen. Now this is the real kicker. Mr. Keith said, we must be professional, courteous, compassionate, and understanding." I am totally surprised that any guard here can pronounce or spell those words. At least 90 percent of the guards here treat inmates worse than they would treat a rabid dog. They yell and curse at inmates constantly, for no logical reason, other than that they

can get away with it. Don't try to ask one of them why they continually do something that is obviously wrong, the odds are good that you are going to be cursed, smacked, stripped naked, and thrown into the "hole" for a week or so. Around here, asking questions is automatic insolence to an officer, punishable by time in the "hole," C.A.B. (Conduct Adjustment Board), and loss of 30 to 180 days of good time. It is not unusual for an inmate to be beat while handcuffed in the hole. This is no less than modem, government approved, slavery. Mr. Keith says that Gov. Bayh should take a walk thru I.S.F. I agree. But he should walk thru disguised as an inmate. By the end of the day, if he is any sort of human-being at all, 90 percent of the guards and administrative personnel here would be fired—including Mr. Keith.

lack of respect The inmates here would welcome some sort of nonDOC connected fact finding committee to bring out the truth about this place and the individuals who run it. He should take time to talk to a committee of i nmates, review write-ups, review inmate grievances, review lock-up procedures, and look into the trouble inmates have receiving medical and dental care, and the trouble we have in receiving mail from our loved ones at home. Someone needs to do something about this place and it has to be the taxpayer who supports it. They are making monsters here, monsters who eventually be released, full of anger and hatred, and coming to live on the same streets with you, your wife, and kids. Think about it. Lincoln L. Green Indiana State Farm Greencastle, IN 46135-9275