Ripples in the Sand

Wasted Honor -

Carl R. ToersBijns is the author of the Wasted Honor Trilogy [Wasted Honor I,II and Gorilla Justice] and his newest book From the Womb to the Tomb, the Tony Lester Story, which is a reflection of his life and his experiences as a correctional officer and a correctional administrator retiring with the rank of deputy warden in the New Mexico and Arizona correctional systems.

Carl also wrote a book on his combat experience in the Kindle book titled - Combat Medic - Men with destiny - A red cross of Valor -

Carl is considered by many a rogue expert in the field of prison security systems since leaving the profession. Carl has been involved in the design of many pilot programs related to mental health treatment, security threat groups, suicide prevention, and maximum custody operational plans including double bunking max inmates and enhancing security for staff. He invites you to read his books so you can understand and grasp the cultural and political implications and influences of these prisons. He deals with the emotions, the stress and anxiety as well as the realities faced working inside a prison. He deals with the occupational risks while elaborating on the psychological impact of both prison worker and prisoner.

His most recent book, Gorilla Justice, is an un-edited raw fictional version of realistic prison experiences and events through the eyes of an anecdotal translation of the inmate’s plight and suffering while enduring the harsh and toxic prison environment including solitary confinement.

Carl has been interviewed by numerous news stations and newspapers in Phoenix regarding the escape from the Kingman prison and other high profile media cases related to wrongful deaths and suicides inside prisons. His insights have been solicited by the ACLU, Amnesty International, and various other legal firms representing solitary confinement cases in California and Arizona. He is currently working on the STG Step Down program at Pelican Bay and has offered his own experience insights with the Center of Constitutional Rights lawyers and interns to establish a core program at the SHU units. He has personally corresponded and written with SHU prisoners to assess the living conditions and how it impacts their long term placement inside these type of units that are similar to those in Arizona Florence Eyman special management unit where Carl was a unit deputy warden for almost two years before his promotion to Deputy Warden of Operations in Safford and Eyman.

He is a strong advocate for the mentally ill and is a board member of David's Hope Inc. a non-profit advocacy group in Phoenix and also serves as a senior advisor for Law Enforcement Officers Advocates Council in Chino, California As a subject matter expert and corrections consultant, Carl has provided interviews and spoken on national and international radio talk shows e.g. BBC CBC Lou Show & TV shows as well as the Associated Press.

I use sarcasm, satire, parodies and other means to make you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Ripples in the Sand

Ripples in the sand are created by friction between the wind, the sand and the ground. This mixture is anything but smooth and is often a case of force versus force with the more powerful force shaping the creation of such combination or blending.

When you are asleep you go with the flow and let the wind blow the sand wherever is lands. It will travel as far and as wide as the ground allows it for it offers no resistance in the process.

The ripples in the sand, contrary to the sand dunes are places where there was a deliberate resistance to the wind by protecting hollow portions in the ground and sticking to them creating the distinct ripples you see in the rows of sand.

The opposite can be said by letting the wind blow and offer it no resistance. If we go with the flow sort of speak, we choose not to be in charge of our own life and let the forces of nature take us wherever that may be. Going with the flow creates sand dunes and are in no way a challenge to maintain or keep as the wind blows, the dunes change along with it.

We kind of see this as a means to not resists and allow things to remain safe and easy for oneself. It relies on dynamics you are familiar with unlike challenging the force and dealing with the unexpected. Thus it’s like choosing between being awake and fully conscious or falling asleep and existing in the unconscious state of mind.

Going with the flow is like sleeping and replay the things we already know is going to happen. We, as human beings, have a tendency to rely on things that are known or familiar to us. This is based on the false notion that if we resist, it will bring us pain and unhappiness.

So why do we not resist when we learn that going with the flow is like sleeping? What are the dangers of taking a different course of action and see where it gets us. Why choose to be awake when it’s easier to lie dead and let things happen naturally? Believe it or not, easy going people are better off than those who are dead. They see the beauty around them, they smell the flowers and hear the sounds of the living.

The dead on the other hand deprive themselves of everything there is but with their eyes closed, their heads down, and their mind in fear, panic, or frozen. Some people prefer to be dead so they don’t have to deal with fear of death, of loss of money or their reputation. Most of all, they play dead so they don’t have to use their sense of consciousness. Heaven forbid, that might require making a decision.

A decision that may bring feelings of guilt, of rage or a change in psyche. An attack on personal feelings or beliefs which translates into an act of aggression. It may cause confusion and at the same time, anger. Fear and aggression are both merged in guilt.

Being dead does not allow you to discover who you really are. What your goals are or where you belong. Being asleep does not enhance your humanity or makes you come alive with your sensory and perceptive traits or talents. God forbid, you found a means to find your own self-acceptance.

Being awake brings vigor and vitality to your life. It opens up strong possibilities of change, different culture, or a rebirth is your existence or place in society. It is after all is said, a meant to find your individual value and worth within society’s expectations.

Being awake brings creativity, passion, desires, invention and creates positive conditions that may facilitate additional experiences beyond the normal limits as you become more confident and courageous to explore more of the world rather than staying home and not do a thing.

Be a ripple in the sand. Resist change when change does not behoove you or your lifestyle. Protect your interest and don’t let the wind tear you down.

After all is said, a ripple is stronger in texture and can be seen to be firmer and more defined of all the sand foundations created, whether they are on or near a beach or in the flat and hot desert.