"Only he who attempts the ridiculous...."

[H2O Man]

Yesterday, I took part in a discussion of Ouspensky and Gurdieff, which was started by friend Solomon on the relgious threads. I spoke about being introduced to their writings by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter in the late 1970s. As a result of this discussion and a series of e-mails, which detailed how the Ouspensky/Gurdieff school of thought can apply in today's world, I put an updated version of an article on Carter's case on my blog. I wrote the original around the time that the movie "The Hurricane" came out. It focuses, in part, on the opening scene of the movie .... where Carter is preparing to fight being sent to a psychiatric ward. See it at:

http://h2oman.blogspot.com

[Solomon]

1. Kick

B-)

[Me.]

2. Wow!

This is a terrific article. It's been far too long since we've seen an article by you.

<<<snip>>>
"In 1973, I was a 15-year old amateur boxer, who was familiar with Carter's boxing career. I read an article on his legal case in a sports magazine, and became convinced that he had not had a fair trial. I wrote to Carter, who was incarcerated in Rahway State Prison in New Jersey at the time. In the manner of a 15-year old, I explained to Rubin that I was going to get him out of prison. To Carter, my letter was "a ray of sunshine in (his) dark and dreary cell," and we began a correspondence that may shed some light on an important scene in the movie, and perhaps even on his case."

Who would have guessed?

[H2O Man]

4. I'm willing to pay

people who say nice things about my senile ramblings. How much do I owe you?

[Me.]

6. Another Story

tell us about the meeting between Rubin and the glib governor.

[H2O Man]

7. I think you know

that I have trouble remembering things off the top of my head ..... but it involved a drifter from Canada, in a case that had a few questions, but where the fellow was -- I believe -- guilty.

But, of course, many people in 1967 believed (or assumed) that Rubin was "guilty." It is indeed a miracle that the jury did not return the death penalty sought by the prosecutor.

So for a number of reasons, Rubin is strongly opposed to the death penalty. And he tried to reason with a former governor of Texas. But that former governor, a self-professed very religious man who claims that Jesus is the philosopher who most influences his life, seemed to delight in the execution of human beings.

I think that people can figure out how this type of thing affects a sensitive person who darned near died in an electric chair. In a 4-13-92 article in Sports Illustrated, Carter talked about the pain he carried from his experience in prison. If my faded memory serves me correctly, the last paragraph on page 95 read someting like this:

It is now more than 25 years since Carter was arrested in Paterson, yet whenever he speaks, he tells a tale of a past that will not let him go. "It is not finished," he says. "I still feel the loneliness. I still feel the pain. I feel it now. I feel everything. The day you get out of prison is the day your sentence begins."

That's the Rubin I know. But some governors can talk to him and just not get it.

[Me.]

8. Thanks

Chilling isn't it, how that particular religious person revels in death? In Texas and now in Iraq. And mind you, I'm not saying that when a crime has been committed a price shouldn't be paid. But first we must make sure the truth is told regarding both individuals and countries. Once that has been determined, punishment must be meted out with a soberness of judgment that doesn't disgrace us all.

[coeur_de_lion]

3. great story, inspirational

My favorite part, because I admire Ali so much:

"The most influential person who came to visit Carter was Muhammad Ali. The former heavyweight boxing champion was interested not only in Rubin's work on prison reform, but also in helping with his appeal. And so, on 4-26-74, Carter wrote me: "Point of information: Today I talked with Ali, and he and I have set the date to fight June 10, 1974 -- here at Rahway. So, I have to get back in shape. But I can do it -- it's only been eight years since I've had the gloves on at all .... but once I put something in my mind -- that's it, baby! Watch out! (smile) Look at me! Now I'm talking like Tom, what? (smile)"

Rubin Carter is inspirational to all of us because he never gave up, and he never stopped trying to do good things. Even when he was in prison for years for a crime he did not commit. We all have to remember people like this in these awful times of the * presidency. It can be very depressing to watch the news and see only what * wants us to see.

But behind the scenes there are good people like Rubin Carter who never give up.

Tell me H2O, what ever happened to Rubin Carter? What is he doing now?

[H2O Man]

5. Rubin works on

prison reform; in support of the wrongly convicted; and is an opponent of the death penalty. A few years back, he went to Texas to talk to a glib governor about sparing a human life .... but that's another story. He lectures at schools and universities, also.

A while back, he was working with Nelson Mandela and others in an effort to reach a peaceful resolution to conflicts in the Middle East. I have trouble keeping up with him, he is so busy!

[coeur_de_lion]

13. he is a great man, and you are privileged to know him

Thanks for this post, I'm sure it helped many.

[Wright Patman]

9. All I know about Hurricane

is that his plight inspired a great soong by Bob Dylan.

And I usually am not a Dylan fan.

[H2O Man]

10. Yes, it did.

The lyrics were actually primarily by Jacques Levy, who the last time I knew was teaching at Colgate University in upstate NY. There's a heck of a good live version on the Bob Dylan Live-1975 "Bootleg Series" .... from the Rolling Thunder Revue concerts. Heck of a good song.

[Me.]

11. Kick n/t

[Me.]

12. Morning Kick n/t

[wildflower]

14. This is excellent, and too late now for me to recommend, darn it!

What a thought-provoking as well as inspiring story.

-wildflower