I know a lot of women are wondering, “where have all the “good” men gone?” Well, I can’t speak for all, but we are still alive. Although we may be out of sight, please keep us in mind. Cuz part of being human means that we are always prone to make mistakes — some more severe and costly than others. And some of those mistakes, though unfortunate, have consequently cost us our freedom. Now we may be locked in a cage and put in a place that tries to stigmatize our very existence, let’s not let our mistakes define who we are. For our current predicament and circumstances don’t define who we are as men nor what we have to offer. Cuz making mistakes well, that’s all part of growth and development. It’s all part of the “living and learning” experience. What differentiates the good from the bad is those who learn from their mistakes and learn to not repeat those same mistakes or let bad mistakes turn into bad habits.
Some of us prisoners are no different than any other person growing up in America’s inner city. We’ve made the same mistakes some of the most successful people in America have made growing up. The only difference is that we’ve never had the kinds of support structures, second chances, and the resources that would allow us to survive those mistakes like other people had, hence our incarceration.
I want to prove to everyone that there are still plenty of good men in this world who are imprisoned, so please judge us solely on the merits of our character, not by our bad decisions.
Peter Louissaint #1432632
Red Onion State Prison
P.O. Box 970
10800 H. Jack Rose Highway
Pound, VA 24279
