Bix Update: on vigils, fasting, re-framing

[Joe Power-Drutis]

Guest reporter: Theresa in Joe's absence

Yesterday I received a letter written by Bix on January 24. I believe
Bix’s own words best describe how he is doing; so, here they are:

On fasting and Intentionality:
“I don't ask that I be removed from the SeaTac SHU. I find peace and
connection with all of you in here. I feel a real sense of God's
presence and a calling to nurture and live out this freedom God has
given me. I'm more weak today from the fast and have decided to end
the fast tomorrow in the evening. “

On gratitude and community:
“Thank you hugely for the vigils - in the arctic weather - and for the
tremendous outpouring of help and consciousness you have brought
about. Overwhelmed and humbled am I.”

On health:
“I would like to express my heartfelt love to all of you working to
better my condition. I now have four blankets and some itching cream.
I did not sleep, but am not out of shape by it. I am deeply sustained
by my liquid-only fast.”

Retraction/Correction Policy: Plowshares News welcomes comments and
suggestions, or complaints about errors that warrant correction. :)

Here are 2 such corrections from Bix
RE: Blake’s visit
“I was asked by the Lieutenant at SeaTac, ‘Why are you doing this?’ I
answered, ‘Conscience.’ She responded, ‘This has nothing to do with
conscience - this is a matter of policy.’ I replied, ‘You said it well
- you have divorced policy from conscience.’”

Our report printed that last line as, “What is policy for some is not
acceptable to Christians.” While this is probably true, it is not the
point that Bix was trying to make. “What I'm saying is that policy
without conscience is not acceptable to anyone. I'm saying that the
bureaucratic stronghold of policy has squeezed conscience to a drip
level.”

Re: Naiveté vs. Fully Informed Risk Taking
Bix writes that the government often portrays peace activists as,
“well-meaning, generous, community helpful persons - but Charlie Brown
like - out in left field.” This is not the case, as Bix’s life -
including more than two years of personal experience with the
inhumanity of the Bureau of prisons - has proven.

“I didn't choose the halfway house because of trust in the BOP or
“Nazi” offer - I chose it out of an unknowing cloud of things going on
within me. Different elements, such as the courage and resistance of
the young ‘White Rose’ woman to the Nazi court - complete condemnation
- came to me over a few weeks, thoughts of, ‘How will the BOP violate
me back in,’ were floating in this cloud. Also, thoughts of, ‘Maybe
it's a time to get to the Jean’s House Renovation.’ ‘Maybe the BOP
doesn’t want to pay for my medications anymore.’ All of these elements
were playing inside - for me it was a stepping out of my comfort zone
to the unknown.”
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To each of you who added your voice in seeking basic care for Bix -
whether through a letter, phone call, prayer, meditation, or other
action – thank you! We never know which ounce may tip the scales of
power toward compassion.

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. ~Ethiopian Proverb