Rick Mathes: Living Urban Legend.

Bad People! Bad, Bad People!

Ugh. My Mom strikes again. Sent me another one of those right wing propaganda FWD:'s.

I couldn't help it. I had to reply, to her, and every email address I could find on the FWD:, which was quite a few.

I sent a lot of feathers a'rufflin' when I did this last time (See July 4th 2006 entry).

I can't stop myself though.

Here: a window into the world of my family-




Friends and Family-

Please visit: http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/rickmathes.html for more information on the Jesus vs. Allah debate.


Taking this story at face value promotes fear and hatred under the guise of Christian love. It is hypocritical, and it is dangerous.

Did anyone who received this email look into it?

How many of you actually know a Muslim?

I know many. Our children have played togeather. They don't want to kill me, or you,

This story is out of context. Written about one man, by one man.

Now, will you that received the original chain letter email as a happy confirmation of your predjudices be willing send out THIS chain letter to right a wrong perception? Or will you let it slide and be complicit in the promotion of hate and fear?

Promoting and distributing this kind of propaganda is dangerous and reprehensible.

Sincerely

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx

(3/24/2004) Since the horrible events of September 11, 2001, the Islamic faith, and those who follow it, have been the subjects of intense scrutiny and distrust. Desperate to know why so many innocent people had to die, many have tried to "prove" that the Muslim faith is intrinsically violent. Given this social tone, it is not surprising that this chain letter, supposedly putting one of Islam's own on the spot, has become so popular. At the very least, we can say this is a one-sided account of real events.
SAMPLE CHAIN LETTER TEXT
By Rick Mathes
Last month I attended my annual training session that's required for maintaining my state prison security clearance. During the training session there was a presentation by three speakers representing the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Muslim faiths who explained their belief systems. I was particularly interested in what the Islamic Imam had to say.
The Imam gave a great presentation of the basics of Islam, complete with a video. After the presentations, time was provided for questions and answers. When it was my turn, I directed my question to the Imam and sked, "Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that most Imams and clerics of Islam have declared a holy jihad [Holy war] against the infidels of the world and, that by killing an infidel, which is a command to all Muslims, they are assured of a place in heaven. If that's the case, can you give me the definition of an infidel?"
There was no disagreement with my statements and without hesitation he replied, "Non-believers!"
I responded, "So, let me make sure I have this straight. All followers of Allah have been commanded to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can go to Heaven. Is that correct?"
The expression on his face changed from one of authority and command to that of a little boy who had just gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He sheepishly replied, "Yes."
I then stated, "Well, sir, I have a real problem trying to imagine Pope John Paul commanding all Catholics to kill those of your faith or Pat Robertson or Dr. Stanley ordering Protestants to do the same in order to go to Heaven!"
The Imam was speechless.
I continued, "I also have problem with being your friend when you and your brother clerics are telling your followers to kill me. Let me ask you a question! ...would you rather have your Allah who tells you to kill me in order to go to Heaven or my Jesus who tells me to love you because I am going to Heaven and wants you to be with me?"
You could have heard a pin drop as the Imam hung his head in shame.
Chuck Colson once told me something that has sustained me these 20 years of prison ministry. He said to me, "Rick, remember that the truth will prevail."
And it will!
END CHAIN LETTER TEXT
Rick Mathes and his wife, Trish, are the founders of Mission Gate Prison Ministries, an outreach to those who are incarcerated and their families. The essay above was offered in the ministry's subscription newsletter and appears in the version above unchanged from its original. Some versions, however, have changed. Most notably, some have added preface or postscript notes that lack the validity of Mathes original, but have become seamlessly integrated with it. Also, some versions have fallen victim to e-mail spell-checkers and incorrectly list the author's name as "Rick Mattes" or "Rich Mattes."



The veracity of the claims made in it, however, is the author's to prove. Unfortunately, Rick Mathes told BreakTheChain.org that he will not provide further details because, in his words, "I fear retribution - I have a 20 year prison ministry to protect."
Third-party accounts of the events in question paint a significantly different picture than the one offered by Mathes. Tim Kniest, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, told the Lee news service that the training session in question was for prison volunteers and took place in a corrections facility in Fulton, MO. However, according to Kniest, prison officials' recollection of events that day differ from Mathes' in several aspects:
0. Religious leaders representing faiths followed by current inmates were invited to present.
0.
0. The presenter on Islam was not an Imam, but rather a Muslim inmate who was pressed into presenting after no Imam could be arranged.
0.
0. Prison officials confirm that the Muslim inmate was asked a few questions that he was unable to answer, but none along the lines of those suggested by Mr. Mathes.
Mathes, however, maintains that his is an accurate account, using the facts he knew at the time, and did go into some more detail making the encounter seem less antagonistic than his original account:
"...the inmate was introduced as an 'Imam'. Mr. Kneist was not there to know what was said or not and cannot disprove that what I wrote wasn't said. In fact when I said, 'I have a hard time being your friend when your faith says to kill me to go to heaven.' everyone burst out laughing. When his presentation was over and it was time for a break, we all felt sorry for the inmate including my self. In fact I gave him a sign and said 'Salaam' and he responded with a knowing smile. Knowing that there wasn't any animosity between us.
"I really asked the questions I needed to know the answers to and he did not respond as I thought he would have. I expected him to defend this "jihad" thing as rebel Muslims using religion to cloak their evil deed in.
"His silence leads me to conclude that either he was ignorant of his faith, was caught off guard and speechless, or agreed with my premise and conclusion (which I think he was).
"I am getting 24 emails in favor of the article to 1 against. We all agree that there is a "simmering volcano" in the Muslim community. Give me an Imam that will sing "God Bless America" or will say the "Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag" and I will listen to them discredit the fears we have about the Muslim community and all that we see and hear in the media. Until the American Muslim community speaks up, I have my doubts about those who join them."
Nonetheless, this essay falls short of being the proof that Islam's leaders cannot deny the violent nature of their own religion that many would have it be. Since both sides of the argument have recognized that the person Mathes was questioning was not an Islamic official nor a recognized expert in the religion, his actions should not be considered indicative of all Muslims. Break this chain.


Friends and Family-

Please visit: http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/rickmathes.html for more information on the Jesus vs. Allah debate.


Taking this story at face value promotes fear and hatred under the guise of Christian love. It is hypocritical, and it is dangerous.

Did anyone who received this email look into it?

How many of you actually know a Muslim?

I know many. Our children have played togeather. They don't want to kill me, or you,

This story is out of context. Written about one man, by one man.

Now, will you that received the original chain letter email as a happy confirmation of your predjudices be willing send out THIS chain letter to right a wrong perception? Or will you let it slide and be complicit in the promotion of hate and fear?

Promoting and distributing this kind of propaganda is dangerous and reprehensible.

Sincerely

David Kendrick

Glen Baumert update and back story:

Letter to the Mayor of Mayes County:

To whom it may concern:

My Name is Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx. I am a former resident of Pryor Oklahoma. I
am writing in an attempt to find someone in Mayes County that can help
me understand what is happening to my friend Glen Baumert.

Glen is serving a 90-day jail sentence in Mayes County Jail for
possession of a marijuana joint.

I know there is a stigma attached to marijuana due to its
criminalization, though marijuana itself is far less dangerous to the
community than alcohol and many prescription drugs. It is arguable
that there is no actual crime in growing, possessing or imbibing
marijuana, if the definition of crime is causing harm to ones self or
the community.

The purpose of this letter is not to debate the integrity of drug
enforcement in Mayes County, though I must note that the sentence far
exceeds what would have been dealt in many other states and counties
that have recognized the harsh penalties for a relatively innocuous
substance does more damage to the people and the state than good.

Glen lives in Colorado and was back in Pryor to visit his children. He
was driving a borrowed vehicle while in town. During a traffic stop it
was discovered that there was a gun under the seat that belonged to
the owner of the vehicle. Glen was searched and was charged with
felony gun possession and possession of a marijuana joint.

In a plea bargain the gun charge was dropped and Glen was sentenced to
10 years in the Dept. of Corrections and pled out for 90 days jail
time for a single marijuana cigarette.

Glen is a convicted felon. Shortly after high school he was sentenced
to 10 years for giving a single Valium to an informant that approached
him for the sole purpose of setting him up in order to lessen the time
she would serve for being arrested for possession of scheduled drugs.
In her plea bargain, she was asked by the police to cooperate in a
sting operation: she would benefit if she could serve up
five other 'bad' guys. She approached Glen for drugs complaining she
needed them for pain. Glen offered her a single Valium. For that
single Valium, Glen served two and a half years of the 10 year
sentence in prison.

Can we take a moment to consider the resources expended by the state
to set up the sting operation, hold the trial, and house Glen in the
State Pen for two and a half years, for his "crime?" Was this justice?
Did this serve the people of the State of Oklahoma? Is this really the
best use for the peoples tax dollars?

Incidentally, I was present in 1986 when Glen Baumert saved the life
of a friend of ours, after paramedics had given up. Glen would have
liked to pursue a career in paramedics, which he is well suited for,
but now cannot due to his felony record.

To get back to the case at hand, Glen agreed to serve the 90 days for
possession for the single marijuana cigarette. At the same time Glen's
case was in the courts, another man was being prosecuted for alledgingly molesting or behaving inappropriately with a number of young girls. This sex offender had a plea bargain also. He pled to a lesser charge. His sentence? 100 days in the County jail...and he doesn't have to register as a sex offender. Glen however, will be labeled a felon for life.

One of the alledged victims of this sex offender was Glen Baumert's daughter.

Glen informed the DA that he was concerned that he and the sex
offender that was charged with victimizing his daughter would be serving time together in
the same jailhouse. He warned the DA that he would have a difficult
time restraining himself if this were the case. He has been trying
since last November to serve his 90-day sentence before the sex
offender.

These warnings were disregarded and Glen found himself in the small
Mayes County Jail with the man that behaved inappropriately with his daughter.
I know from a Pryor resident that the sex offenders are usually
segregated from the other inmates, though apparently that wasn't required.

Recently, I heard that the sex offender was beaten in jail. After one
week of Glen's sentence, the 'sex offender' was moved to the regular
jail pod where Glen was also housed. Almost immediately, Glen
confronted the man and a fight ensued. What's going on here, people?

When did it become justice to let a sex offender plea to 100 DAYS? Is
that what the innocence of our children is worth?
If these two are allowed to share the same space, the results are
certain to be disastrous. Glen does not need another temptation to
take out his outrage on the well deserving target. I am talking about
the sex offender, to the justice system here.

Is this the manner in which the Mayes County justice system is
supposed to be working? Is this going to go on with no public outcry?

If I didn't know Glen personally, and heard this story I would
probably shake my head and click my tongue and mutter a few words of
sympathy for the poor bastard, and curse the judge that allowed all
this to happen. Glen is my friend from childhood. I know him, and know
that he is a good person, not a menace to the community, but rather,
an asset.

I am asking that some light be brought to this case and justice
served. Glen's case should be commuted, our sex offender laws
scrutinized, and the Judge/Judges in these matters taken to task.

And the jail? You can't tell me that NOBODY knew that putting that
particular sex offender in a cell with a victim's dad would be
anything but disasterous.

This is a matter that can and should be handled by concerned citizens
and public servants within the community. If it is not, then I will do
everything within my power to make sure this issue is brought before a
larger arena.

Sincerely

Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Concerned citizen

POSESSION OF A JOINT: 90 DAYS IN JAIL. CHILD MOLESTATION: 30 DAYS
I'm pissed. I'm pissed at my hometown, the state of Oklahoma, our national drug policy. I want to make an issue out of the incarceration of my friend Glen Baumert. I think other people should be pissed to. I would encourage people to e-mail the Mayor of my hometown, but he doensn't have an email address. So I am encouraging people to contact the editor of the local paper, The Pryor Daily Times. ( kparker@pryordailytimes.com )

There is more to this story and it only gets more insane. I will follow up with more details soon....



Letter to the Pryor Daily Times editor:

Editor,

I posted the below comment to the forum page at the paper website.

Glen is a friend of mine and has been since High School. I am going to make an issue of his incarceration. I am a member of several groups and organizations that look for these kinds of cases to illustrate the absurdity of drug enforcement policy in this country. I am writing to you to give you a heads up and present you with an opportunity to research this story and get you facts together before the onslaught comes. There is a back story. examination of those facts only make the case more absurd.

Do your paper the service of bringing this issue to light before the outside news organizations scoop it out from under you. Interview Glen and get the whole story.

Thanks for your time


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Where is the outrage over Glen Baumerts incarceration?

Glen Baumert is serving 90 days in the Mays County Jail for posession of one joint. He is serving as a plea bargain agreement. He was visiting his home town, driving his fathers truck when he was pulled over. There was a gun found under his seat (belonged to his father) and he was charged with felony gun possession as well as posession for the joint. The gun charge was dropped as a part of a plea bargain and he is now serving 90 days for posession.

Ok, Lets look at this a little closer: Where is the crime here? Who was he harming? Who is being protected?

Lets look at the definition of crime:
crime [krahym] Pronunciation Key - –noun
1. an action or an instance of negligence that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or morals or to the interests of the state and that is legally prohibited.
2. criminal activity and those engaged in it: to fight crime.
3. the habitual or frequent commission of crimes: a life of crime.
4. any offense, serious wrongdoing, or sin.
5. a foolish, senseless, or shameful act: It's a crime to let that beautiful garden go to ruin.


Let's use definition one. Glenn was neglegent in effectively hiding his self medication from the law enforgement official. This offended the morals of the state. Fine. Do the crime, serve the time.

However, another inmate at the Mays county jail is serving 30 days for child molestation. 90 days for a joint, 30 days for child molestation. What kind of morals does this state have?

Lets go a step further: The man convicted of child molestation perpetrated the crime on Glen Baumerts daughter. Let that sink in a moment.

Any one that knows about this issue and is not outraged need to examine themselves and their life, and their role as citizens of the county and state. Look at the incongruity of the crime/punnishment system being implemented in YOUR NAME as citizens of the state. Are you not guilty of negligence? Are you not guilty of being an accomplice to a crime?

Be a good citizen, exercise you rights as an American and contact your county officials to let them know you do not want to be an accomplice to this attrocity. Or do nothing and live with your part in telling the world that Pryor Oklahoma thinks that child molestation is less of a crime than posession of one joint.

Outraged Oklahoma Ex-Pat

I've been using my thinking again...

I know that forward thinking isn't very popular these days, due to the terrifying implications that arise when we consider issues such as energy.

Check this out, and we'll talk later.

Maddog Rants again. A classic story from a few years ago.

View of the new Farm. Weed Pulling Meditation Center will be operating soon.

Click on image for larger version.

Eagles are Awesome!

Watch this, then meditate...

There is so much I could say about this video that I won't. Maybe later. Just watch it first.

Chicken ala King

Chicken ala King, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

what

Under Destruction...





I changed the template and chopped the right side off of half my pictures.

TESTING NEW TECHNOLGY...

BEAR WITH ME...



This is a project started for the Showdown in Chinatown 24hr film contest. The theme was love. The props to be used were bubblegum and wine. We never got to the props.

Short film on Me-U , the most banned performance artist in Chinatown, riffing on the theme.

Digital Chicken

Chicken Totem 2, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hawai'ian Print

Hawai'ian Print, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Eye Candy Man.

I write words. I take photos.

I find it difficult to join the two. Words can run deeper than the image and the image can be wider than the words.

Pictures from my life, what I see, they can't say.
I could write for ever about one image and never capture it in words.

A Paradox walk into a bar...

Burn

Burn, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Bass Nectar @ Eli's Bash

Bass Nectar @ Eli's Bash, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Party

Fire Face

Fire Face, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Flleting, a flicker of a flame holds a shape for a frame to to hold it for more than that.

Tino

Tino, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Consistancy

Pants, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

Hello.

I don't know how to make web adresses itno hyperlinks on this blog with a Mac.

Something to do: http://www.thecleverest.com/content/attractors.html?

Cut and Paste. Web crafts.

Mantis, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

First I find a photograph, then I find a title, then I write stuff.

Infrequently. Recently.

I think about my life sometimes and I consider writing it down. Sometimes I go furthur and consider how I would write it down, I consider how honest I'm willing to be. Can I talk about this situation in a way that conveys my experience of an interaction without impuning another that helped to make the happening noteworthy?

"If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."

I have something nice to say. I also have things to say that can't be considered nice, save in the maner of their presentation.

Can I really Dicern without Judgement? It that what I do? Or is it still a prayer I say by way of self deception?

Honesty in a non-offensive way.
I think that can be called Grace.

I guess I could write about my reluctance to write about specific situations, ones that I feel strongly enough about to want to preserve them somehow in word or memory. But then it's like poetry, or chemestry, like some obtuse word geometry that acts as a skeleton that you must flesh out with your own I.D. Id. Requires interactivity and not just receptivity. Investment of your time and interest can yield oracular returns that compound over time as a relationship.

J.R. "Dog" Dobbs

Dobbs, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

@ Two Months

Proto Pipe

Proto Pipe, originally uploaded by Dark Sevier.

My friend Doug has one of these. I always admired it. I love the feel and look of brass. The bottom pops out for easy cleaning, with the poker which locks in the middle tube that holds the stash, andalso cleans the smoking chamber. The lid slides to a tight fit to prevent spilling and/or odor. Well made thing give me great pleasure.