Robyn Short's Blog, page 4
October 13, 2013
6th Annual Prisoner’s Family Conference
February 19-21, 2014, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
The mission of the Prisoner’s Family Conference is toimprove the quality of life for the prison family through increased awareness, education,networking and support, promoting positive relationships that lessen the traumatic impact andreduce risksresulting fromthe incarceration of a loved one. The need for this support is great.The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other country in the wo...
Letter From Birmingham Jail
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”is relatable to all aspects of social injustice. It it a text I reflect on frequently and one in which I find great inspiration. I share it here on my blog as a continuous reminder that the responsibility to nonviolently and passionately stand up for justice for all people is the responsibility that belongs to us all.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Reposted from The Martin Luther King, Jr.
Research and Education Inst...
October 3, 2013
Remembering Who We Are
As our Nation moves in to day three of the government shutdown, there is no doubt we are a Nation in crisis. Like most Americans, I watch the news, read about this crisis online and follow the conversations in the social space. Like all people, I am aghast at the devastating impact this shutdown is having on hundreds of thousands of individuals and the suffering that is ensuing because our congressional leaders lack the communication skills and compassion to lead this truly great...
June 24, 2013
Politicians, Hypocrisy & the War on Drugs
The War on Drugs has led the United States to become the most imprisoned nation in the world. Although the United States represents only five percent of the world’s population, we imprison 25 percent of the world’s prisoners, creating lifelong marginalization of those who have spent time behind bars.
The War on Drugs has had a devastating impact on American society. Following are some quick stats on the impact the War on Drugs has had on Americans, especially Americans of color:
2....
June 17, 2013
Atonement
Achieving Equality and Freedom in the Age of Mass Incarceration
The following is a synopsis of the book that I am writing. I hope to have the book available by January 2014. I would love your feedback.
To atone is to repair a wrongdoing or an injury to another person. When we atone, we restore the wronged party back to his natural state of innocence. The spiritual component of atonement is to restore our perceptions so that we perceive the Divine, the oneness, in all of humanity. T...
May 30, 2013
Prayers for Peace Book
Prayers for Peace
by Robyn Short, Available on Amazon
Peace is possible. In fact, if we are to survive as a human species on this planet, peace is inevitable. A friend once said, “It always gets complicated before it gets simple.” The state of our human existence confirms this truth. We have complicated this human experience, and yet, it really is quite simple: the Bible calls for us to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;” Gandhi instructed us to “be the change you wish to see i...
May 29, 2013
Texas Tough Gets Smart
Texas has always had a tough on crime approach — an approach that is weak on human rights and tough on human decency as well as on the Texas state budget. This legislative session, Texas politicians took a serious look at criminal justice and made steps to getting smart on crime.
The 83rd Texas State Legislative Session concluded with 52 “smart-on-crime” policies that have either made their way to the Governor’s desk or that have already been signed into law. Thank you to our state legislators...
May 23, 2013
Get Money Out of Politics
Get Money Out of Politics
By Robyn Short
Our nation was founded on the very enlightened principal that our government should be of the people, by the people, and for the people. This is not the government we have today. When 90% “of the people” support gun reform legislation, and yet congress refuses to pass gun reform laws, the government is not adhering to this founding principle. When most Americans can list off the top of their heads numerous U.S. Presidents who have admitted to using illeg...
May 1, 2013
Take Action for Texas House Bill 1266
By Robyn Short
Texas House Bill 1266 calls for an Adult and Juvenile Administrative Segregation Task Force for the state of Texas. Administrative Segregation is the termed used by criminal justice systems for solitary confinement. With 152,000 individuals currently incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison system, our state leads the nation in incarceration. When most people think of prison, they think of the typical 9×12 cell occupied by two individuals. However, that is...
April 30, 2013
5 Policy Changes to End the War on Drugs
By Robyn Short
Barack Obama said on January 21, 20014, “The War on drugs has been an utter failure.” This fact is becoming increasingly apparent thanks to the important book by Michelle Alexander The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness and Eugene Jarecki’s brilliant documentary, The House I Live In. It is time to bring this dark period of our nation’s history to an end. The following statistics from www.DrugPolicy.org and the NAACP’s Criminal Justice Fact Sheet show w...
