A Wonderful Cause: Freethought Books to Prisoners

frikativ54

My name is Leslie A. Zukor, and I am the Founder of the Reed College Freethinkers, a secular student group based in Portland, Oregon. To counter the religious indoctrination that poses as "aid" to prisoners, the Freethinkers are conducting a Books to Prisoners.

However, since we are a new club, we are hurting for funds. Thus, in order to make this drive a reality, we need your support. Could you send freethought-related titles (preferably paperbacks) and/or finanial contributions towards buying books?

Here is our address and contact information:

Leslie A. Zukor
Reed College Freethinkers, Box 1170
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202

If you would like more information or want to speak with me, feel free to contact reed.freethinkers@gmail.com.

Thanks for your consideration,

Leslie

Edited by: misterpessimistic at: 10/19/05 4:48 pm

frikativ54

Sorry I spelled "freethought" incorrectly. And a couple of lines later, it should read Books to Prisoners DRIVE.

It's still a worthy cause, even if I can't write.

Leslie

Chris OConnor

I'll leave this one post on the boards, but not the other 8. You would do yourself a service by posting a link to a web site and include a phone number. This could easily be a scam...not saying it is.

frikativ54

Hi,

Here is our interactive livejournal, which is the closest thing we have to a website: www.livejournal.com/commu...ethinkers/

Also, my phone number is (206)-909-3188.

Here is a link to my other email at the Reed College official website:

administration.reed.edu/s...ail&id=126

We are definitely not a scam; my goal is to help people, not to do any harm.

Thanks and I would hope you'd consider contributing.

--Leslie

Keith and Company

Can't say i see a lot of future in this cause.

I'd love for prisoners to open their eyes to the possibilities, but there are just too many christains in the clink.

Not because christainity is evil, but because the parole boards tend to look well on church attendance.

I'd worry that rumors of atheism would hurt a guy's perception of his chance of early out, or even some prejudicial treatment at the hands of any gawd-fearing guards.

Keith’s Place

Edited by: Keith and Company at: 10/18/05 1:14 am

Keith and Company

Frikativ:

Anything you wish to add?

Keith’s Place

frikativ54

Yeah, that's total discrimination. They just can't be doing it.

And furthermore, I think the benefits of possibly impacting a prisoner's entire life would greatly outweigh the risks.

What's your evidence that the books would impact the inmates being able to get out? Is it because they are secular or just because they tend to be more progressive--or both?

Leslie

Keith and Company

Quote:
Yeah, that's total discrimination. They just can't be doing it.

Can't, but are. Not saying it's a good thing, but a fact of life. Christains are all et up with the idea of redemption and cleansing of sins...as long as you do it by their playbook. Telling them you've found morality by escaping religious dogma is an uphill battle against their bias. Not a winning hand for someone asking them to sign off on his having 'learned his lesson' for past crimes.

Quote:
And furthermore, I think the benefits of possibly impacting a prisoner's entire life would greatly outweigh the risks.

I did say it was a good goal (didn't i? These days, my memory is as bad as...as...futz.) But if just one prisoner declares he's an atheist because of a freethought book, and is denied parole (for any reason), the others will conclude that it's better to play along with the established ritual. Seek redemption, be sincere, quote from the Good Book the way they expect, walk away clean.

Quote:
What's your evidence

Please reread my posts and identify, for me, if you could, the part where i indicated it was an established fact? Didn't i say 'worry' or 'i fear' or something like that?

I draw the conclusion from 30 years of dealing with the entrenched prejudices of various bureacracies (sp?). I've seen an admitted drug user get a security clearance for Top Secret SIOP faster than the pagan or the atheist that reported aboard the same day and answered honestly. Next command, i just told the bastards i had 'no preference' for religion.

I've spoken with uncountable christains that say they would help, commute the sentence of, or even flat out pardon a Real Christain® if they were the warden, governor, or sat a parole board. Prisoners know it and play to it.

There are numerous blind spots and failings in our justice system. I'd prefer a charity to overhaul the Public Defender system, or the Parole system before working to enlighten the inmates. I'd say you're burning the candle at the end where the light is less useful.

Keith’s Place

Keith and Company

Oh, and the invitation "to add" something was for the thread i started at the other end of the link provided. If you'd like to state your case there, there are other freethinkers. And some christains.

Or Here.

Keith’s Place

Edited by: Keith and Company at: 10/19/05 4:12 pm

tarav

Leslie, yours is an interesting endeavor. I would be interested in learning about how successful your book drive is. Since you are interested in freethought and have been posting here, you may want to introduce yourself in the members thread. I hope to see you in other threads too!
BTW, you wrote, "Sorry I spelled "freethought" incorrectly". If you hit the "edit" button you can go to the subject line and change "Freethoght" to "Freethought".

frikativ54 · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject: FYI--More Info on BookDrive

Hey Freethinkers.

I just wanted to give some more info. on our project; here are some books that we were interested in receiving. Don't let these suggestions inhibit you from donating other freethought-oriented books:

Richard Dawkins--The Blind Watchmaker--$11.50
Bertrand Russell--Why I Am Not A Christian--$10.50
Susan Jacoby--Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism--$10.88
Sam Harris--The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason--$10.8
Paul Kurtz--Humanist Manifesto 2000--$8.00
Orvin Larson--American Infidel: Robert G. Ingersoll--$16.50

Also, you can send cash, checks, or money orders made out to our club at:

Leslie A. Zukor
Reed College, Box 1170
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Portland, OR 97202

All it takes is for a few people to send $10 or $15 to really make a difference in the lives of prisoners.

Also, you can PayPal the money to leslie@zukors.com

Thanks again for your consideration,

Leslie

PS--Check out our t-shirts on eBay; they are pretty cool!

cgi.ebay.com/Reed-FREETHI...dZViewItem

LZ ::115


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