Manning writes: "To those who have kept me alive for the past six years:
minutes after President Obama announced the commutation of my sentence, the
prison quickly moved me out of general population and into the restrictive
housing unit where I am now held. I know that we are now physically
separated, but we will never be apart and we are not alone."
People hold signs calling for the release of Chelsea Manning during a gay
pride parade in San Francisco in 2015. (photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)
<https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/13/chelsea-manning-priso
n-sentence-commutation>
To Those Who Kept Me Alive All These Years, Thank You
By Chelsea Manning, Guardian UK
18 February 17
When I was afraid, you taught me how to keep going. When I was lost, you
showed me the way
To those who have kept me alive for the past six years: minutes after
President Obama announced the commutation of my sentence, the prison quickly
moved me out of general population and into the restrictive housing unit
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/chelsea-manning-suicide-att
empt-solitary-confinement-health-experts> where I am now held. I know that
we are now physically separated, but we will never be apart and we are not
alone. Recently, one of you asked me "Will you remember me?" I will remember
you. How could I possibly forget? You taught me lessons I would have never
learned otherwise.
When I was afraid, you taught me how to keep going. When I was lost, you
showed me the way. When I was numb, you taught me how to feel. When I was
angry, you taught me how to chill out. When I was hateful, you taught me how
to be compassionate. When I was distant, you taught me how to be close. When
I was selfish, you taught me how to share.
Sometimes, it took me a while to learn many things. Other times, I would
forget, and you would remind me.
We were friends in a way few will ever understand. There was no room to be
superficial. Instead, we bared it all. We could hide from our families and
from the world outside, but we could never hide from each other.
We argued, we bickered and we fought with each other. Sometimes, over
absolutely nothing. But, we were always a family. We were always united.
When the prison tried to break one of us, we all stood up. We looked out for
each other. When they tried to divide us, and systematically discriminated
against us, we embraced our diversity and pushed back. But, I also learned
from all of you when to pick my battles. I grew up and grew connected
because of the community you provided.
Those outside of prison may not believe that we act like human beings under
these conditions. But of course we do. And we build our own networks of
survival.
I never would have made it without you. Not only did you teach me these
important lessons, but you made sure I felt cared for. You were the people
who helped me to deal with the trauma of my regular haircuts. You were the
people who checked on me after I tried to end my life.
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/chelsea-manning-suicide-att
empt-solitary-confinement-health-experts> You were the people that played
fun games with me. Who wished me a Happy Birthday. We shared the holidays
together. You were and will always be family.
For many of you, you are already free and living outside of the prison
walls. Many of you will come home soon. Some of you still have many years to
go.
The most important thing that you taught me was how to write and how to
speak in my own voice. I used to only know how to write memos. Now, I write
like a human being, with dreams, desires and connections. I could not have
done it without you.
From where I am now, I still think of all of you. When I leave this place in
May,
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/17/chelsea-manning-sentence-co
mmuted-barack-obama> I will still think of all of you. And to anyone who
finds themselves feeling alone behind bars, know that there is a network of
us who are thinking of you. You will never be forgotten.
<http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socialize>
Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.
People hold signs calling for the release of Chelsea Manning during a gay
pride parade in San Francisco in 2015. (photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/13/chelsea-manning-prison
-sentence-commutationhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/13/c
helsea-manning-prison-sentence-commutation
To Those Who Kept Me Alive All These Years, Thank You
By Chelsea Manning, Guardian UK
18 February 17
When I was afraid, you taught me how to keep going. When I was lost, you
showed me the way
o those who have kept me alive for the past six years: minutes after
President Obama announced the commutation of my sentence, the prison quickly
moved me out of general population and into the restrictive housing unit
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/chelsea-manning-suicide-att
empt-solitary-confinement-health-experts> where I am now held. I know that
we are now physically separated, but we will never be apart and we are not
alone. Recently, one of you asked me "Will you remember me?" I will remember
you. How could I possibly forget? You taught me lessons I would have never
learned otherwise.
When I was afraid, you taught me how to keep going. When I was lost, you
showed me the way. When I was numb, you taught me how to feel. When I was
angry, you taught me how to chill out. When I was hateful, you taught me how
to be compassionate. When I was distant, you taught me how to be close. When
I was selfish, you taught me how to share.
Sometimes, it took me a while to learn many things. Other times, I would
forget, and you would remind me.
We were friends in a way few will ever understand. There was no room to be
superficial. Instead, we bared it all. We could hide from our families and
from the world outside, but we could never hide from each other.
We argued, we bickered and we fought with each other. Sometimes, over
absolutely nothing. But, we were always a family. We were always united.
When the prison tried to break one of us, we all stood up. We looked out for
each other. When they tried to divide us, and systematically discriminated
against us, we embraced our diversity and pushed back. But, I also learned
from all of you when to pick my battles. I grew up and grew connected
because of the community you provided.
Those outside of prison may not believe that we act like human beings under
these conditions. But of course we do. And we build our own networks of
survival.
I never would have made it without you. Not only did you teach me these
important lessons, but you made sure I felt cared for. You were the people
who helped me to deal with the trauma of my regular haircuts. You were the
people who checked on me after I tried to end my life.
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/24/chelsea-manning-suicide-att
empt-solitary-confinement-health-experts> You were the people that played
fun games with me. Who wished me a Happy Birthday. We shared the holidays
together. You were and will always be family.
For many of you, you are already free and living outside of the prison
walls. Many of you will come home soon. Some of you still have many years to
go.
The most important thing that you taught me was how to write and how to
speak in my own voice. I used to only know how to write memos. Now, I write
like a human being, with dreams, desires and connections. I could not have
done it without you.
From where I am now, I still think of all of you. When I leave this place in
May,
<https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jan/17/chelsea-manning-sentence-co
mmuted-barack-obama> I will still think of all of you. And to anyone who
finds themselves feeling alone behind bars, know that there is a network of
us who are thinking of you. You will never be forgotten.
http://e-max.it/posizionamento-siti-web/socializehttp://e-max.it/posizioname
nto-siti-web/socialize
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