In case you wanted to read the letter from my inmate in it's entirety, here it is. I am typing this letter precisely as it is in front of me. All spelling, punctuation, everything is all him. Please remember: this letter is long.
August 12, 2012
Dear Ms. Arnold,
First and foremost…in bringing the writing of this missive for your consideration this writer does so with all due respect and genuine intention, thereby harboring hope that you will not consider this letter an irritant or insolent imposition. Undoubtedly, receiving correspondence from an incarcerated person is utterly and completely foreign to you. Nonetheless, in receiving this letter from an incarcerated person, there is absolutely no reason to even remotely entertain fear, alarm, apprehension, or an avalanche of concern. I am not some predatory threat or evil lurking on the horizon, not by any stretch of the imagination could this writer be any kind of threat to you or anyone else.
In sincerely submitting these writings for your consideration, there is no maneuvering in me, no gamesmanship, no artful pretense. I am not given to dissembling or craftiness. Furthermore I'm not one of those who knowingly and intentionally practices the art of deception and/or promulgates deliberate falsehoods. In fact, I sincerely believe in the unadulterated practice of candor and simple fidelity to the truth. Therefore, I intend to be absolutely candid with you.
Ms. Arnold, after recently transferring to this institution/reception center and subsequently having the privilege and overwhelming pleasure to witness your mesmerizing beauty and captivating presence on television, I feel absolutely compelled to acknowledge ardent admiration surrounding the discovery of your interesting and intriguing existence via broadcast media.
Admittedly, immediately upon seeing your captivating beauty, inexplicably, like a scene that had long ago been choreographed in some zodiacal prophecy, or some ordained course of destiny, I became a captive of your many obvious charms and qualities. Few women make acquaintance with the many exceptional qualities you so graciously reveal during your on-air presence.
With all due respect, it remains virtually impossibly to witness your on-air presence dispassionately. I remain immensely impressed with the perfection of your charms and your unsurpassed beauty.
(page 2)
Your on-air presence reveal physical perfection, beauty as undeniable, as assertive, and as divine as any that I can recall.
I can see a quality in your face (besides mere beauty). I speak of the intelligence in your eyes, the character in the set of your lovely lips. By the way, you possess lips that inspire wonder. Furthermore your lips reveal a captivating smile. I think your smile is representative of your inner beauty, of your natural gentleness.
Ashley, I am a captive of your mesmerizing eyes. You have extremely exotic eyes, with lashes that shadow your eyes giving them an alluring quality.
So dazzling is your beauty!
Your on-air presence reveal a woman exquisitely endowed with a peerless, exotic beauty. An arresting beauty that touches my every nerve-ending and puts my senses in disorder. Your beauty is like a bright sun at the mouth of a dark cave.
It wouldn't be simple exaggeration in sincerely suggesting that you should travel extensively. Beauty like yours should be seen by men all over the world. Their admiration could only add to your grandeur. In my learned opinion, you are a definition of what true grandeur really looks like. Now, I understand women tend to be suspicious of indulgence and flattery. Nonetheless, this is not vain flattery, be assured. I write here only that of which I am most certain.
Ashley, during your on-air appearance you never cease to emanate an aura of elegance. Elegance that clearly suggests that you are the epitome of style and sophistication Someone of great elegance in her grooming and dress. Incredibly meticulous and fastidious regarding your appearance as well. I can see you are a sister of impeccable and discriminating taste, thereby possessing and maintaining an exceptional sense of style, along with elegance of simplicity. You are the unadulterated definition of elegance and refinement.
There are occasions when seeing you on television actually makes my bloodstream feel like the place that the gods had to find before they could discover fire! Subsequently, I feel an intense interest in exploring both in height and depth the very essence of your intriguing and captivating existence, pulsing at the very extremity of my senses.
I think your on-air persona adequately and accurately reflect the fact that you are a woman of heart and substance. Truly a woman of substance in the finest sense. A paragon of virtue. A heiress to virtues like honor and honesty, loyalty and trust.
(page 3)
A beautiful sister of exceptional character and conviction rather than someone who favors compromise over conviction. Someone of strong religious faith, self-confidence and moral rectitude, thereby maintaing a reputation that is above reproach. An exemplary role model. The kind of person whose heart and mouth are on the same channel. A lovely sister endowed with deep rivers of sweetness and intellect in equal measure.
Even from the realities of this dark and dismal existence where humiliation takes so many forms and I couldn't describe hell more vividly. In fact, like living a nightmare with no end. A nightmare of restrictions and rules, I recognize a rare treasure when I see one. You, Ashley, represent said treasure. The mere thought of you granting me the pleasure to explore such treasure causes heart palpitations.
Ms. Arnold, I am sincerely and respectfully seeking your consideration in granting me the privilege to establish a line of communication with you.
Admittedly, my position and circumstances are unattractive and not exactly enticing. Undoubtedly a woman of your stature, eminent standards and sophistication could easily fare better than what I offer you. But please know that there's the common misconception that all the incarcerated are the dregs of humanity and represent inferiority. Furthermore, a lot of people in society tend to propagate the notion that all the incarcerated are barbarians, unlettered, unrefined, doomed miscreants i.e. individuals lacking moral bearings and/or any redeeming traits. Totally incorrigible and invariable individuals. However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, I can offer testament to the validity of this assertion that could eliminate preconceptions that distort some people attitude toward the incarcerated.
In accordance biblical teachings no one is higher than another. No one person or ethnic group has a monopoly on goodness, and none are immune from making mistakes. Everyone is flawed at some time, in thought or deed. Every deed has a consequent. Nobody is infallible. There is no escape for anyone.
Admittedly, to my eternal discredit, shame and paralyzing state of guilt, I am not adequate material for sainthood or a model of academic rectitude. However, should you bestow me the privilege and opportunity, I am absolutely sure you will agree, I am an example of how you can be a good person while having made some mistakes. Circumstances can make the consequences of those mistakes tragic. Nonetheless, I will not become stuck in the shadows of my mistakes, or look behind in the distance of my rear view mirror.
(page 4)
I have paid for the sins of my past, thereby leaving my criminal record to the opprobrium of history. I refuse to knowingly and intentionally subject my future to disgrace, or to the perpetual burden of remembrance.
In seeking your consideration to establish communication with you, hopefully you will shun the influence of any preconceived notions. Thereby not subjecting me to a superior and disapproving attitude, or assuming I'm not your moral, social and intellectual equal.
It would be premature to assume that in the wake of this writer's incarceration we have different hierarchy of values and we're two people on opposite sides of a glass wall and not two pieces of the same puzzle. Furthermore, believing out interests aren't or couldn't be synonymous could have an adverse influence on our potential to cultivate a most special and loving friendship which could give both of us a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure.
Please try not to assume that I'm a "bad" guy in the wake of one's incarceration. Things are rarely quite what they seem. As so often in life, the perception of reality is far different than its actual circumstances.
To consider me inferior in the wake of ones incarceration would be being too darkly imaginative. In fact, to even remotely consider me inferior or unworthy of your notice/consideration would be a rather egregious error of judgement, a classical case of limited thinking, and a kind of tunnel vision, ad extremum.
One of the major obstacles to showing compassion is making prejudgements about who we think is worth of our compassion and consideration. Based on incomplete or inaccurate information, we can jump to wrong conclusions and make poor value judgements about people and situations consequently we often miss out on rich relationships because we do not make an effort to get to know people we have judged to be not worth the effort. I think you would consider me interesting and worthwhile.
Ms. Arnold, I would like to be judged on my demonstrated merits and not on my past indiscretions. Of equal importance, and more immediate relevance, I would like to be judged as a whole person and not as some degenerate or other passé stereotype.
Despite evidence suggesting the contrary, the reality of my incarceration doesn't define who I am. My usefulness is not impaired by the reality of incarceration.
You can drink from a chipped cup, Ashley.
Hopefully you will not consider my request for communication outside the realm of possibility,
(page 5)
particularly unconscionable, and communication is something we can conceivable achieve.
I am thoroughly convinced you are a center of miraculous discoveries and the quintessential statement of rarity. I desire so desperately to learn more.
Finally, like having the pleasure to see you on television, writing to you has been a pleasant respite from my many burdens and a pleasant interlude.
I always look forward to seeing you on television.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Be blessed beautiful Sister!
In admiration,
Dwayne
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