tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post4048087424382499605..comments2023-05-07T05:08:56.655-04:00Comments on A Ram In The Thicket: Thomas Merton and Pornchai Moontri: A Prayer for the Year of MercyRyan A. MacDonald (RAM)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04646776550834941203noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-24408114527876854462016-09-03T23:41:11.146-04:002016-09-03T23:41:11.146-04:00That's not right. The state constitution almos...That's not right. The state constitution almost certainly has a provision similar to COTUS A8 - prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment. ... i.e. Low caloric intake should be unconstitutional, and basic necessities should be provided by the state. <br /><br />That said. I realize the cost of litigating the matter is beyond the means of most of us: but it could be a ground breaker for a small firm.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18190552061666580847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-88910809580117155802015-12-17T18:45:53.337-05:002015-12-17T18:45:53.337-05:00The following comment by way of explanation was po...The following comment by way of explanation was posted on These Stone Walls by Brian Holdsworth of the Fishers New Awards site:<br /><br />Hello TSW followers. My name is Brian Holdsworth and I’m one of the founders and judges on the Fisher’s Net Awards. We’ve received a couple angry emails which condemned us for the outcome of the awards. I took the time to personally respond to each but since then I’ve come across this comment thread and thought I should respond here as well.<br /><br />There are many serious accusations being thrown around on here that I find offensive and unfair (especially in which the sincerity of my Catholic faith is called into question). I’d like to invite all of you to think long and hard before you assume the worst about someone and pass such judgements unless you’re convinced that you will stand blameless before God when you’re judgement comes.<br /><br />The Fisher’s Net Awards clearly describes how the awards are chosen on the website, but let me take the time to reiterate. The nominees were submitted to us for approval and inclusion in the public voting. Once the nomination period ended, the public polls were opened. On December 1st the polls closed and the judges were given the chance to chose the winner from the top 3 (based on public votes). TSW was one of the top three for its category, but for whatever reason, the judges did not pick it as their favorite. This process was described on the FAQ page from the beginning.<br /><br />You may not think it’s the best way to choose the winner, but we thought it best combined input from the public as well as expert opinions. Without the latter, it would have simply been a popularity contest instead of something based on actual merit. The FNA was not setup to be a popularity contest but an award based on having created the best website (with an emphasis on design and technical achievement). Based on that criteria, TSW didn’t actually qualify because it is neither technically or visually impressive (which shouldn’t come as a surprise given Fr. Gordon’s limited resources – i.e. who can blame him). You may disagree, but as a professional web designer, I think my opinion bears a little more weight. In spite of that fact, I spent the time looking through the site and reading the articles. Considering we had hundreds of nominees, I couldn’t actually afford to take that kind of time with each one, but for this one I made an exception and after reading it, decided to include it to try and bring greater awareness to Fr. Gordon’s case. I included TSW as a nominee even though doing so was a violation of our own judging criteria. It’s ironic that I’m now the subject of so much anger…<br /><br />The judge’s decision was not rigged and it was democratic. The judges were not influenced by anything other than the criteria and this makes it impossible for the decision to be the result of any single person’s agenda.<br /><br />I appreciate the passion and conviction with which you all follow this blog and fight for awareness for this case, but getting outraged over an online award of little consequence is going to do little to bring justice to Fr. Gordon. Nor will outrageous accusations and conemenations against people with whom you are not acquainted. Please take the time to inform yourselves before you attack others and draw such conclusions and if you can’t be sure, consider not saying anything at all.<br />Ryan A. MacDonaldhttp://araminthethicket.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-23670105864487957562015-12-07T16:05:36.249-05:002015-12-07T16:05:36.249-05:00I'm very glad to see this post, and the commen...I'm very glad to see this post, and the comments from our friends. Ryan wrote here that he has learned a lot about prisons. So have Max and I, but the hard way. We survived that month of skimpy food, and neither of us is any skinnier or worse off for the wear. I can't say we don't struggle but we cope with prison better than most so please don't worry about us. As for the rest of the article, it says a lot about Max, about his character and spirit and his discovery of the gifts God has given to him. I believe he has a wonderful future filled with grace and important things on the horizon beyond prison. The people who have written about him have helped to change his life. I am so very proud of Ryan, Felix Carroll, Father George David Byers, Michael Brandon and others who have taken up pen for this cause. With Divine Mercy Blessings, Father Gordon.Father Gordon MacRaehttp://thesestonewalls.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-27869671122879084072015-12-07T15:52:31.667-05:002015-12-07T15:52:31.667-05:00Thank you, Mr. MacDonald, for writing this update....Thank you, Mr. MacDonald, for writing this update. We love Pornchai so much in our family. He is such an inspiration. It is such a dreadful shame how prisoners are treated without human dignity and without enough food to sustain them! That's outrageous! I read that part of your post about the lack of enough food to my younger children and plan to send the article to my older children. We will be praying and sacrificing during Advent for Fr. MacRae, Pornchai and the other prisoners. Thank you. Liz Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634839618917365334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-8581827268521745402015-12-06T16:02:01.833-05:002015-12-06T16:02:01.833-05:00This is just excellent, Ryan. Thanks. I admire Max...This is just excellent, Ryan. Thanks. I admire Max so much and every new little thing I hear of him makes that admiration go up a notch or two. (this is not Steve Cherry; this is Mary Fran). I write to Max frequently.Steve Cherryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08886271078165417069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1862706768442202138.post-78437131128483168412015-12-06T15:04:43.547-05:002015-12-06T15:04:43.547-05:00I pray every day for them. Thank you for this upda...I pray every day for them. Thank you for this update! Jeannie Diemernoreply@blogger.com