The Daily Times

Dear Editor:

First on behalf of the incarcerated fathers and also some former soldiers, I want to thank the kids at Porter Elementary for their care packages for soldiers. It really touched our hearts.

Also, I believe this same group of kids participate in the Random Acts of Kindness Week, where they do outreach for the homeless and helpless. This is also commendable.

I would like to bring to your attention another group of kids just over the mountain from you all in Moyock, N.C. These fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders from First Baptist Church call themselves “Girls In Action.”

This past Christmas and now this Valentine’s Day, they have used their creativity to make cards and have mailed them to a particular group of the incarcerated. We, in turn, mail the cards to our loved ones who may have forgotten about us.

All of the above kids are a lesson to the community about servitude, compassion and forgiveness. Most schools, however, teach only servitude while leaving compassion and forgiveness up to churches.

This can be seen clearly if you’ll notice the schools’ “jail house tours.” You know, they take our kids to the jails and prisons as a scare tactic. I do not agree that fear and intimidation should be a motivator for the children. I think the truth would work better. And the truth is, even though jail guards ask the inmates to act “aggressive” during these tours, inmates can’t stand being forced to do this.

We swim in tears of regret for having made the choices that took us from our families. Even the worst fathers imaginable have great heartache for their children. We appreciate all who realize this and extend compassion and forgiveness our way.

Sincerely,

Daniel Dotson 127542

Graceville Correctional Facility

5168 Ezelle Road

Graceville, FL 32440

Editor’s note: The writer noted he is a native of Blount County and has a big family here.

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