Done deal: Feds to buy Thomson prison from state for $165 million

suntimes.com ^ | 10/2/12 | DAVE MCKINNEY

[Brent Calvert 03969-030]

Yes, it did. Prison is where I got straight with Jesus, got turned onto Limbaugh and conservatism, and where I studied the Bible, law and the US Constitution, and lastly, human nature in its most base, tribal, primitive habitat.

I was a legal clerk, running the law library for a couple of years. I spent my days reading every published federal case. I viewed Desert Storm on CNN with Lyndon LaRouche and studied the Book of Job with Rev. Jim Bakker. I played a lot of bocce and smoked 50-cent cigars with Gambino Bros. I traveled the country in a blacked-out bus while shackled and handcuffed, never knowing what state I was even in until we arrived for the night. I flew Con-Air for one transfer. Try to eat a bologna sandwich and half an apple while you’re hands are black-boxed and cuffed to your waist. I actually stayed 30 days longer than I needed to (before a transfer to a halfway house) so I could finish another semester of college credit. I took 17 hours that last semester.

I did see a lot of violence and fear, but I actually now have to pause and reflect to remember those times. It is the good I remember the most. In the end, it was a good experience. I admitted at the time that I deserved to be there, but I did eventually hit the point of diminishing returns.

Two of my best friends from there are now in the ministry, one doing prison ministry. I know many ex-cons, and the ones I know that care enough to vote, vote Republican. Most will never care enough to participate.

Sorry for my rambling. I hope I made sense.