A big part of Tommy Silversteon's life has been art. Slowly through the years he earned himself priviledges included having the art supplies he needed. Upon his transfer to Florence, All priviledges have been taken away and he has no art supplies. Here are some of his past works.
If after reading this, you would like to help him join the general prison population, contact Tommy directly or write or email FFUP. Addresses below. If you do decide to write Tommy, feel free to use our PO Box for your address. Just be sure you give us your real address so we can forward his letters to you. Also, we are always available to answer questions or provide support as needed.
Tommy Silverstein 2-13-030-L;14634-116 USP Max; Box 8500; Florence, CO 81226
FFUP(Forum for Understanding Prisons); PO Box 285; Blue River, Wi 53518 swansol@mwt.net
more art
5 comments:
It is heard to believe that we are living in the 21st century, at a time where mankind is considered to be advanced, compassionate, thoughtful and kind.
Instead the actual truth, at heart, many of us are savages in disguise. When a prison warden has total power over a prisoners life, he should have the wisdon and intelligence to not use that power to continuously punish, hurt and virtually destroy the mind of a fellow human being.
I am not advocating blindness to crime, nor do I think that criminals should not be punished. To the contrary, puishment should be just. Isolation for 23 years, with 23 hours a day kept in a cage would even drive a wild animal to insanity. Humans need to communicate with others, to share ideas, to partake in acts of kindness. Without that connection, no man or society can progress.
As a culture, we are judged by our actions. Germans said that never new what the concentration camp killers were doing. We have been told what is happening to this man, we now know therefore we cannot ignore nor keep silent.
If Tommy was barbaric, does that justify our being even more barbaric.
Put this man in the General Prison population. He will still die in prison, but he is not an animal. What has happened to our concept of civilization, compassion, and cultural advancement.
I have to agree with bbasil. While I agree for this man to be punished for doing an atrocious crime of taking the life of a human being. what is being done to this man is also atrocious. Justice has been serve by this man spending his life in prison, why torture him by not allowing him getting out of a cell like that for such a long time. Death is better than the punishment he is receiving. 23 year in isolation is inexplicable, because of an aparent vendetta. While I condenmed the action this inmate took against another human being, I also condenmed what is being done to this human being. You do not threat a dog this way, why threat a human being like this and be able to go to sleep at night. give him a chance, at least for a few hours at first.
I have to agree with bbasil. While I agree for this man to be punished for doing an atrocious crime of taking the life of a human being. what is being done to this man is also atrocious. Justice has been serve by this man spending his life in prison, why torture him by not allowing him getting out of a cell like that for such a long time. Death is better than the punishment he is receiving. 23 year in isolation is inexplicable, because of an aparent vendetta. While I condenmed the action this inmate took against another human being, I also condenmed what is being done to this human being. You do not threat a dog this way, why threat a human being like this and be able to go to sleep at night. give him a chance, at least for a few hours at first.
My entire life I have believed that if you choose to commit a haneous crime; ie: murder, rape, child molestation, etc. etc. that you give up or forfeight your basic human rights. However, I also believe that God doesn't even presume to judge us before we are dead, so who are we that we have this "right to judge" and put ourselves above the almighty? I agree with the other posters that he did commit a crime and deserves punishment, however we are not savages and should show compassion in the face of barbaric violence. I do believe that what this man is being put through is worse than death. Is there a "just" punishment for murder? Is it death? Is that all we can see as just? An eye-for-an-eye?
I have taken an interest in the case of Tommy Silverstein after seeing a programme about him in the UK in approximately 1997. Every so often I look on the internet to see whether there has been any progress. I cannot believe that he is still being held in solitary confinement after all these years - and instead of being able to work towards sanctions he has been moved to even more inhumane conditions. For the Governor To be so petty as to take his art equipment away from him beggars belief. I am sure that if there is a 'day of justice' it wont only be Tommy who has to face his demons but many who have kept him caged like an animal. Thank goodness our justice system is more about rehabilitation than punishment in the UK. God pity America! I fully pledge my support for him to be moved from solitary confinement. He will go down in history as even Nelson Mandella was able to talk to fellow prisoners!
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