Jail Letter to Sen. Clinton / Faith enough for reform?

jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org

Good People & People of Faith,

This message has info on:
1.  Jail Letter to Sen. Clinton - before trial
2.  Faith enough for reform - Thanks for God's help?

We have a page at the web site 
<http://www.AKidsRight.Org/clinton/trial_events.htm> which has a 
schedule of events and a map to describe activity we have planned for 
John Murtari's Federal trial on March 18th.  We'd like to get an idea of 
how many people plan on being there.  Please respond to this message and 
also "CC" a copy to Kevin Purdy (kevin@AKidsRight.Org).

/From John - "My trial is next Tuesday and I hope to see some friendly 
faces there when I'm led into the Court Room.  It would certainly bring 
a warm smile to my face and be a positive demonstration to the Judge, US 
Attorney, and media -- that the Family Rights issues this parent is 
risking jail for are important.  Hope to see you there, each positive 
action we take as individuals is valuable."/

*1. Jail Letter to Sen. Clinton - before trial*

Below is the text of a handwritten letter John Murtari just mailed to 
Senator Clinton's Syracuse & Washington offices.  We encourage you to 
FAX your thoughts to the numbers below:

       Syracuse FAX:  315-448-0476
       Washington FAX:  202-228-0121
----------

March 6, 2008

The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
James M. Hanley Federal Building
100 South Clinton Street
P.O. Box 7378
Syracuse, NY 13261-7378

Dear Senator Clinton (Mr. Biba),

This letter comes to you from a jail cell and my Federal Trial in 
Syracuse is on March 18^th .  By that date I will have already spent 50 
days in jail.  My alleged offense is writing "I LOVE YOU" to my son and 
"SEN CLINTON HELP US!"  with kid's chalk on the ground of the Federal 
Plaza.

Members of our group AKidsRight.Org, have visited your local and 
Washington offices.  Many parents have called and written your local 
office.  I know I have called three times in the past few months to talk 
to Mr. Biba, your regional representative, and no calls have been 
returned.  We feel ignored.

I can understand how busy you and your staff must be and that the 
concept of Family Rights, as a recognized Civil Right, is a new issue.  
I'm coordinator for a growing group of loving Moms and Dads who were 
unjustly separated from their kids due to divorce, separation, or child 
"protective" services.

We have seen our families, and especially our children go through 
needless heartache and pain -- it was an issue we also had not 
recognized, till it happened to us!

Our immediate goal is a local meeting between you and a small group of 
mothers and fathers associated with our group.  We hope that after you 
have a chance to hear our stories and also from other groups -- you will 
endorse a call for Congressional Hearings and eventually the creation of 
a Family Rights Act.

An Act to recognize and protect the right of our children to have TWO 
parents equally involved in their lives AND the right of parents to 
raise and nurture their own children.  That requires parents be found 
guilty in a criminal court, with jury protection, of being a 
demonstrated serious threat to their kids -- before government can 
interfere in family life.

I can think of no more important issue.  One that affects the very 
fabric of our society.  We have a draft meeting agenda at our web site: 
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/clinton/draft_agenda.htm.

My contact info is below.  I look forward to your response!

Respectfully yours,

John Murtari
34 Franklin Street
Lyons, NY 
14489                                                                       

jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org                    
315-635-1968, x-211                          

*2.  Faith enough for reform - Thanks for God's help?*
*
THANKS FOR GOD'S HELP*

Did many of you catch that in the last message? Did it bother you? You 
know, I almost didn't put it in -- imagine that!  I got some recent 
feedback that said "All of the talk about religion and Jesus seems out 
of place."  Now imagine that!  Although many seem to appreciate the 
integral part Faith plays in NonViolent Action 
<http://www.AKidsRight.Org/civil_back.htm>, others have counseled me I 
should down play the religion stuff ...

/But that would have lied about my experience here in the jail and what 
keeps me going. It certainly isn't anger at the people in the system, or 
a desire for revenge against my former spouse. I can't even say my 
ability to tolerate weeks in jail is from the strong love I have for my 
son; or a response to the terrible indignity with which many of you have 
been treated./

I survive this, and can repeat it, because of my Faith (imperfect as it 
is) in a Loving God. I have a book of Psalms, the Liturgy of the Hours, 
and after every meal and at night I follow through the cycle.  Some may 
be disturbed by the Psalms that follow.  They not only request help from 
the Divine, but also admit personal failure that has no excuse.  
Certainly not the "I'm okay/you're okay" and everything is relative take 
on life.

Last year we featured Thanksgiving Day Proclamation 
<http://www.AKidsRight.Org/archive/archive2007/0046.html> of President 
Lincoln.  Did any of you find it strange that he called the Civil War a 
result of our Nation's "perverseness." Have you heard any recent 
politicians talk about America that way? 

/Are we the perfect cry babies?  We sit & squeal about injustice that 
hurts us, but we expect someone else to "make it all better."  We just 
need to yell a little louder!
/

We fail to embrace the Divine precept and love our neighbor as we love 
ourself.  Prepared to lay down our life for a friend?  Do we want our 
children caught in the same system?  /
/

During this season of Lent, before Easter, may be a good time to 
*reflect on our own behavior, and what we could have done and can still 
do better!*

Here are a few excerpts from my favorites. I hope you will enjoy them also!

Psalm 142

With all my voice I cry to the Lord,
with all my voice I entreat the Lord.
I pour out my troubles before him;
I tell him all my distress
while my spirit faints within me.
But you, O Lord, know my path...

Listen then to my cry
for I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue me from those who pursue me
for they are stronger than I.
Bring my soul out of this prison
and then I shall praise your name.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sins.

My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done...

Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom...
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me...

O rescue me. God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn...

Psalm 13

How long, O Lord, will you forget me?
How long will you hide your face?
How long must I bear grief in my soul,
this sorrow in my heart day and night?

Look at me, answer me, Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes lest I fall asleep in death,
lest my enemy say: "I have overcome him";
lest my foes rejoice to see my fall.

As for me, I trust in your merciful love.
Let my heart rejoice in you saving help...

-- 
John Murtari
___________________________________________
Coordinator                                   AKidsRight.Org
jmurtari@AKidsRight.Org             "A Kid's Right to BOTH parents"
Toll Free (877) 635-1968(x-211)  http://www.AKidsRight.Org/

=======================================
http://www.AKidsRight.Org/   
A Kid's Right to Both Parents!
------
Newsletter mailing list
Newsletter@kids-right.org  subscribe/unsubscribe info below:
http://kids-right.org/mailman/listinfo/newsletter