A Special 10-Year Anniversary

A Special Ten Year Anniversary Edit Delete
6:07AM, Thursday, 12 Mar, 2009
My dear readers yesterday was a special day in my life. Ten years ago I found myself in jail for contempt of court. What had I done? I had refused to turn over material to a judge on a book I was researching about CIA involvement in drug dealing. I got six months in jail. I was threatened with an additional nine months in jail for a separate contempt of court citation.

Wait a minute, one has freedom of speech in the US and cannot be jailed for writing a book. Right? Wrong!!!! Please go to www.forbiddenbooks.net.

I awoke at 5:00 AM on the morning of 10 March, 1999. I was terrified that I would go down stairs to receiving and discharge. I imagined myself being taken back upstairs for another trip to court and an additional 9 months in jail.

I opened up my daily Bible studies reading. The big title for the day was "Find Your Own Calcutta." It referred to 1 Corinthians 7:17-24. Below that was a reference to Mark 5:19 as follows:

"Go home to your friends and tell them of the great things the Lord has done for you."

A profound feeling of peace overcame me. I had no doubt that I was going home.

After breakfast I was taken down to receiving and discharge. I was at peace but anxious. I was questioned by a variety of people for 45 minutes. I was then given my release clothes and a couple of hundred dollars US in cash. I was escorted by prison officers downstairs to the lobby. I asked to use the rest room before I left. They looked across the street to a petrol station and told me:

"Go to the bathroom over there. You're a free man now!"

As the glass doors swung open and I stepped out onto the Los Angeles street, I felt such a wonderful joy and happiness. I had my liberty once again!!