by Sam Dodson | Apr 27, 2009 |
[I asked Sam in a letter about his mediation, and here is his response. He gave me permission to post this personal letter to the blog.]
Hey Mike,
On the meditation, you have the right idea. I focus on my breathing. When my mind wonders I notice and rerturn my focus to breathing. I do other things as well.
Sometimes I sit and focus on my freedom. I see and feel the joy of my freedom, the feast we are going to have, the return to my life.
Other times I sit feeling joy and compassion for those who have not yet come to understand the ideas of liberty. I feel them coming around and experience the joy of a free world. I experience the healing that begins to take place int he lives of those destroyed by governments.
Yet other times I sit focusing the energy of the universe into my body and radiate it out from within me. I can feel my entire body tingle with positive energy. It courses through me, and I feel peace contentment and conneted to the universe.
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to meditate. It’s the result that counts.
I invite everyone to join me in feeling how great it will be when they release me shortly.
Sam
by Ian | Apr 26, 2009 |
So far, Sam’s arrest and imprisonment indefinitely without trial have barely scratched the surface of the internet, let alone the mainstream media. This is similar to the lack of coverage my case received when I was locked up for “contempt of court” and my tenants’ couch in their yard. Arguably, Sam has gotten more coverage as the Keene Sentinel did publish two front page articles as a result of his arrest, but those articles never broke into other papers in NH and the AP did not pick them up. Thank you to the few bloggers on the internet who have picked up the story. To everyone who has contacted their favorite blog or news service and suggested they cover Sam’s story, thank you. If you haven’t please take a moment and do so.
Also, here’s an easy task to complete on Sam’s behalf. You can help get him on and his story covered by “Freedom Watch”, the popular online-only FOX News show. Just visit this list of potential guests, scroll to Sam Dodson and click Vote and select 3 you may then spend up to seven more votes on other guests (I recommend also voting for Free State Project founder Jason Sorens.). Then you can do the same on this list of topics. Vote 3 for “Right to Record, Reporters Getting Arrested Everywhere” (and you also may want to vote for “Discuss the Free State Project”).
I spoke with Sam this morning. He’s wondering if he should stay in jail as the writ of habeas corpus is taken to the NH supreme court. (The superior court judge denied it, saying he couldn’t let Sam out without having his “legal” name.) Sam also didn’t get mail yesterday, which he seemed bummed about. I suggested the guards have been holding his mail. I also suggested he start eating. The hunger strike hasn’t done anything to gain publicity for his case, and will only serve to weaken his composition and distract his mind. Two weeks is enough, especially for someone with Sam’s body type. So, to get out of jail, he can either wait there and see what happens, pay $10,000 cash bail (which you can bet will have whatever fines he’s ordered to pay taken out of it after a trial, so this is the worst option), or give up his “legal name”, which may lead to a bail hearing and release on recognizance.
What should Sam do? Leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments and I’ll print them out and send them to Sam via mail-to-jail.
Update: Please vote up the article about Sam at Nolanchart.com. Just click the thumbs up graphic at the top right of the page. Thank you!
by Dale Everett | Apr 25, 2009 |
Click to Enlarge
History repeats itself as another peaceful activist is imprisoned indefinitely simply for not actively validating and participating in a system he doesn’t believe in. The video below gives a nice summary of the story of reporter Sam Dodson of the Obscured Truth Network.
Regardless of whether you agree with Sam’s motivations, do you believe that a punishment should fit the crime? Is life in prison a just sentence for remaining silent?
(Watch Video…)
by Sam Dodson | Apr 23, 2009 |
[Sam wrote me a letter and asked that I transcribe it and share it with everyone who wrote him a letter in jail. The words in square-brackets below are my input, not Sam’s. – Mike Barskey]
Mike,
I can’t thank you enough for running Mail-to-Jail. The letters and postcards mean so much. You should have seen the look on the guards’ face the second day I got the bulk of the letters. I’m letting the other prisoners read some of them. They are amazed that letters are coming from everywhere. Around New Hampshire, Florida, California, Israel, the UK, and even Tasmania, Australia. The post cards that come in with the inspirational saying give me hope.
(more…)
by Ian | Apr 23, 2009 |
Just got off the phone with Sam. He’ll call tonight’s Free Talk Live with details, but yesterday Ivy filed a writ of Habeas Corpus with the superior court and now today all-of-a-sudden Sam is brought down to the Keene Police Department and fingerprinted and photographed as John Doe. Prior to this the judge had said nothing would happen until Sam gave his “legal” name. Did an order come down from the higher court?
Ivy has been a huge help in all of this. She has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort toward helping Sam, (and by proxy, all of us) and has done it for peanuts. Please consider showing your appreciation for her efforts by paypaling her at Ivy at ivysspiceoflife.com
Also, Mike Barskey has done amazing work with Mail-to-Jail.com, the website that allows you to easily send mail to imprisoned activists like Sam. Sam told me that nearly every piece of mail he has received has come through Mail-to-Jail! Please visit the site and consider sending Mike a contribution to help him pay for stamps and envelopes. (Look for the links in the right column.) (more…)
by Dale Everett | Apr 23, 2009 |
Click to Enlarge
Part 3 of rose-colored glasses.
When the cops beat an innocent man for standing up for his rights at a checkpoint, a Baptist pastor no less, you know you’re in a police state… unless you’re wearing some seriously amped up rose-colored glasses. Checkpoints, people. Checkpoints inside the U.S. where everyone is stopped without any sort of suspicion, much less reasonable suspicion, and asked for their papers. Is this not sounding disturbingly familiar?!
(Watch the video)
by Chris Muskus | Apr 22, 2009 |
The last Sunday of the month is quickly approaching us and you know what that means, it’s time for the Free State Food Drive.
Last month we managed to collect just slightly over 100 cans & assorted food for the community kitchen in Keene.
Let’s see if we can break the 150 can barrier.
Join us this Sunday, at Vendetta 43 Central Square in Keene to help feed the hungry.
Chris M.
