A PERSPECTIVE ON VIOLENCE

IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT I AM ON DEATH ROW, MANY PEOPLE MAY QUESTION MY OPINION. IT STANDS TO REASON THAT VIOLENCE IS WHAT PLACED MANY OTHERS AND ME ON DEATH ROW IN THE FIRST PLACE... WHETHER OR NOT WE EVEN COMMITTED A VIOLENT ACT. HOWEVER, I WAS PHYSICALLY PUNISHED (IN THE EXTREME) THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD, SURVIVED THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN THESE (SO-CALLED) UNITED STATES AND SERVED IN THE ARMY DURING THE VIETNAM CONFLICT...SO YOU SEE, I DO KNOW ABOUT VIOLENCE.

AFTER THE ENORMOUSLY DEVASTATING EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001...NEARLY EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD IS SAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS CHANGED. I AGREE THAT SOME PEOPLE’S LIVES WILL CHANGE AND TO MANY IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE ONLY NEGATIVE CHANGES, WHICH WE FACE. I, FOR ONE, TRULY BELIEVE THOSE CHANGES NEED NOT BE NEGATIVE IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND THAT MY POINT OF VIEW IS NOT UNIQUE. OVER HISTORY, MANY CULTURES SPEAK OF LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES. THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THIS CONTINENT HAVE AN OLD ADAGE, WHICH BASICALLY SAYS THAT; THE MISTAKES THAT WE MAKE TODAY WILL BENEFIT TO US IN THE FUTURE.

ESSENTIALLY, WHAT I AM SAYING IS THIS: WE, ALL MANKIND, MUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT OURSELVES. WE MUST BECOME SPIRITUALLY CENTERED AND PRODUCE A POSITIVE (COMMUNAL) IDEOLOGY IN ORDER TO LIVE IN PEACE AND HARMONY. INSTEAD OF USING THIS ENORMOUS ACT OF VIOLENCE TO PERPETUATE VIOLENCE ALL OVER THE WORLD... WE MUST DIG DEEP IN OUR HEARTS AND SOULS TO PRODUCE LOVE, NOT HATRED. WE MUST OVERCOME OUR EMOTIONS AND OUR PRIDE... WHILE SEEKING DIVINE GUIDANCE.

FEAR GOD WHEREVER YOU MAY BE...FOLLOW AN EVIL DEED WITH A GOOD ONE, AND YOU WILL ERASE IT...DEAL WITH ALL PEOPLE ON THE BASIS OF GOOD CONDUCT...TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT. MAY OUR LORD HAVE MERCY ON US, SHOW US HIS GRACE AND BESTOW HIS BLESSINGS UPON US.

LOVE, PEACE & HAPPINESS...

ABDUL-RAHEEN AS-SABUR 5EB86

P.O. BOX H-96500

SAN QUENTIN STATE PRISON

SAN QUENTIN, CA. 94974