KEITH THURMOND - Texas Death Row
AN OPEN LETTER FROM KEITH
- June 4, 2003
Confucius said, "I still haven't
seen anyone who likes humaness and dislikes inhumanity.
People who like humanness couldn't be better, while those
who dislike inhumanity are, by that very fact, practicing
humanness because they are not allowing the inhuman to affect
them, are there any who can use their strength and humanness for
a whole day ? I have never seen anyone who lacked the strength.
There may be such people but I have never seen any."
So much to say, with so little time,
but to get to the end we must start. My name is Keith,
I really don't like formal stuff but some things have to be
done to put some minds at ease I know. I'm one of many condemned
to die. Yes, a death row inmate in the state of Texas,
the state that leads the USA in death row population and executions.
There are many words I can put down continuing on about Texas
and its killing machine. But this is not the time. I
refuse to focus, to allow Texas to take what little time I have
to prove I'm worthy of life. Plus why should I worry about something
I can't change ?
As the great philosopher said, "If
your words are truthful and your actions are earnest, they
will be effective even in foreign countries. If your
words are not truthful and your actions not in earnest, do you
think they would be effective even in your homeland? When you
stand, see truthfulness and seriousness assembled before you."
Being in the position I'm in - all
I have in my present life - my future is pretty much
settled, my past is not happy. So I have to pick and
choose which memories to keep. Now I have a voice and
I'm going to take full advantage of it.
Please read this with an open mind.
To have already made up your mind that I'm an evil
person, or that I will be full of lies and deceit just to save
my life. I'll tell you now if saving my life means spending
it in this prison or another then Please let me die !!
I have only been here 8 months, and
things have changed a lot. I'm told the last change
that was made here in Texas was really dramatic. All
death row inmates except female death row inmates were moved from
old Ellis Unit, where Death Row has been since the beginning of
time. At Ellis they had Group recreation, they were able
to work, watch TV, go to church most important, they were able
to make crafts items and converse with other inmates. Something
that gives a sense of being. Take that away and I'm just
an animal in a cage.
There you could be active, I
only get one hour of recreation in a day room five times a
week - I might as well stay in my cell. There is nothing
but a pullup bar a sink and a toilet and a table. I don't
know why the table is there - no games to play and you can't even
take a pen and paper with you. I get one hour two times a
week outside which is really inside the building it just don't have
a roof. Oh there is also a basketball goal without a net and
a flat basketball out there. Now what good is that ? Thats
what I thought also.
So, I am in my cell 23 hours a day,
no TV, but you can buy a radio if you have the money. There
are many other things I could mention but it would seem like
I'm crying. But I do have a right to voice my feelings
and thoughts , besides my punishment was death - not mental torture,
sleep deprivation, cold meals, denied or destroyed mail, denied
medical attention etc !
As I wait I have taken it upon myself
to at least appear to be alive to have somewhat of a life.
But this can't be done alone. I don't have any
family. So I'm looking for penpals, people to spend my
time writing, laughing or crying, I have plenty of time with 23
hours in a small cell, one can only sleep so much in this place,
you get very little of that with every time they do count, they
wake you to ask for your TDC#A, Oh yeah, here you're not a person
anymore, your an item, a number.
I would like to write with anyone
that has interest in me, age, sex, race does not matter.
All I ask for is honesty and openmindedness and I'll
give the same in return. If you are one to just feel sorry
for me and that the reason you'd write me, thank you but no thank
you. I don't pity or feel sorry for myself and I'll not allow
anyone else to do so either. Its allright to be concerned because
thats part of being human, even though many folks have forgotten that.
Three kinds of friends are beneficial
and three are harmful. When friends are honest, sincere,
or knowledgeable, they are beneficial. When friends
are pretentious, fawning, or opportunistic, they are harmful (15:37)
I know many who are reading this will
notice I haven't mentioned what I was accused, convicted,
and sentenced to die for. I didn't for one reason -
it matters not why I'm here, but that I'm not the same person
who came to this place. Now don't get me wrong. I'll
gladly explain and allow you to know these things, I'll answer all your
questions, but why write about it now, then you will draw your own
conclusions and make up your mind before you get to know me. You'll
also notice I am not claiming to be innocent nor am I saying I'm guilty
of capital murder. These things are personal and on a personal
note I will write anyone that wants to write me about it. I'll
then tell them about my case and whats going on now.
Now you know why I didn't write hundreds
of words about how the courts did this and that. After
you come to know me, you'll come to a favourable conclusion
I'm sure.
I watch as men I ate with, laughed
with and enjoyed their company are marched off. There
is nothing I can do, knowing they'll not be coming back,
I sometimes think that is my punishment to wait and watch, I've
even at one time asked myself if I would be better off dead now,
while I'm still sane and whole. Believe me, its a battle
that not just anyone can win, just to maintain your sanity you have
to reassert yourself daily.
I thank you for your time spent reading
my words as I said I will answer all letters and answer
all questions. But I warn you - if you truly don't
want the truth about something, don't ask, I'll be brutally honest,
if you ask something heartwrenching then be prepared ! Seeking
penpals, Keith
KEITH THURMOND 999435 12-DB-22
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston Texas
USA 77351
The CCADP offers free webpages to over 500 Death Row Prisoners
Contact us for more information.
"The Eyes Of The World Are Watching Now"
This page was
last updated September 10, 2003
Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty
This page is maintained
and updated by Dave Parkinson and Tracy Lamourie in Toronto, Canada