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I WANT TO write this down while it is fresh – it is late at night but the rawness of the experience still rushing through my veins.
I am in Wolfville, Nova Scotia this week with the Soar Foundation, accompanying four Irish teenagers to a youth leadership experience called Camp Catapult. The purpose of this camp is for each of the young people to discover their inner leader. As part of this programme they receive talks from inspirational leaders as a well as a week long program of activities.
Tonight they heard from a man who has had to lead himself through the most daunting and nightmarish of life experiences. Kerry Max Cook spent 22 years of his life as a death-row inmate in a Texas jail for a crime he never committed. With searing honesty Kerry Max told us how he grew up as the son of an army officer who had been stationed in Germany. He told us the story of his turbulent relationship with his mother, his closeness to his brother and the low levels of self-esteem that marked his young life.
Upon his family’s return to Texas his life spiralled in to stealing cars to be accepted by the bullies that made his life a living misery each day of school. He quickly became known as a teenage trouble maker in the small conservative town in which he lived – a name that was about to bring him to a Death Row jail cell.
When 21-year-old Linda Jo Edwards was murdered in 1977, a local district attorney was running for state office and building his campaign on keeping the streets of small town Texas safe. Kerry Max became a quick target for conviction and, despite overwhelming evidence that pointed to his innocence, was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death.
“It made me feel there is more in all of us”
It is hard to describe the power of Kerry Max Cook. The way in which he survived the savagery of that prison cell, the fights, the rapes, the inner demons and his repeated commitment that he was never going to give up. He taught himself to understand law; he read voraciously, he became qualified as a paralegal.
It made me feel that there is more in all of us. We are capable of more than our minds can comprehend, often it takes great challenge to realise this.
His struggles against all odds were framed against a justice system that was as deeply flawed as it was punitive. Four times he attempted to force a re-trial, four times his prison cell welcomed him back into its arms, ready to test his will all over again. He cut himself to get out. On one occasion he ran a knife across his neck, blood flowing, wanting out, the pain too much. The footage of his limp body being rushed to the prison infirmary was shown to us, grainy as it was it portrayed the reality of Kerry Max’s situation. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Kerry Max’s closest friend was his brother. When he was killed in a bar room disagreement it was almost the final blow. All hope was gone – why live? Instead he faced the challenge once more, renewed his efforts to prove his innocence and eventually after all the hurt and all the pain Kerry Max Cook walked free of the Texas Prison service after 22 years on death row.
This story was not one of hatred, of revenge or of total darkness. Told with the title of the ‘Anatomy of Dreams’, this now silver-haired man with a deep Texan accent spoke of love, of forgiveness, of never giving up on our dreams. He spoke of justice and the right of each of us to be all that we can be. He spoke of possibility.
As the talk ended Kerry Max spoke of how his fight was not over. His dark night not ended. While he is free, his conviction has not been officially overturned by the Texas State Department and he was still fighting for his innocence to be recognised on paper. He is still fighting for the simple right to be able to rent an apartment, or a car, rights stolen from him. This shadow is why he travels the world speaking to young people. He wants for them a life he did not have.
“Don’t tell me about yesterday – tell me what you are doing today to make your dreams a reality”
He wants his story of perseverance, courage and resiliency in the face of adversity to empower young people to love themselves, strive for the best and above all else never ever give up. This was why for over an hour after his powerful talk he stood and met teenager after teenager – many of them crying deep tears, born of feeling lost, or losing a parent, or simply wanting justice for Kerry Max.
He consoled them, he told them he believed in them and he told them to contact him. But “don’t tell me about yesterday, tell me what you are doing today to make your dreams a reality” he said to teenager after teenager.
It was as if he was offering advice to the teenager he once was, a teenager who was to meet with great adversity and come out with forgiveness and love in his heart, and a will to never ever give up.
The four Irish teenagers who sat and listened to every word Kerry Max Cook came away inspired, motivated, changed. They had seen a man who had overcome himself and the system that held him and was continuing to dedicate himself to being all he could be.
What a message for these four young Irish people to bring back to their country: a spark to start the fire.
From all at the Soar Team – Dream Big, Be Bold and Never Give Up.
Kerry Max Cook’s battle to clear his name continues with 76,000 signatories on his online petition. He wrote about his life and experiences on Death Row and in fighting the US justice system in his Chasing Justice book.
Tony Griffin is an athlete, charity activist, speaker and author. He is a former All-Star hurler with Clare and co-founded Soar, a not-for-profit outreach movement which assists peer-to-peer delivery of critical life skills in young people.
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“It is morally wrong, unjust and unfair to tax a persons home”
- Enda Kenny, 1994
“I do not engage in the politics of denunciation”
- Gerry Adams, 1994.
“It’s a turn of phase” Enda quite often in recent times…
Quick cap the property tax the political landlords would have to pay more on all their rented houses why don’t they cap the rent on property that’s right our politicians are landlords conflict of interest.abolish the lpt its an unjust tax
Dublin,Cork City & Galway City tax.
Well said peter. Just watching ” wind that shakes the barley ” them Fine Gael are a shower of English traitors , history repeating one self again
Surely English traitors can only be traitorous to England…
Evolution is such a great concept. If we didn’t evolve we wouldn’t have to worry about a bill being delivered to our cave
To be fair, pulling out a quote from 21 years ago is actually meaningless. Regardless of who it is. Lot if changes in Irish life since then.
IT IS GOING UP IN THE 2016 BUDGET, they have kept saying this all along and then the talk about elections comes up and surprise… They change their minds, that is until they get in?
Hand me back the stamp duty that I forked out in 2007 .
Must be that election looming.
You would be whinging if they did nothing. Just can’t please some people.
Another election stunt! Desperation by Labour!
It needs to go. People don’t see why they should suddenly start paying an annual charge simply for owning property, and even FG’s core voters were among the worst-hit. It’s also worth noting that it was abolished twice before: in 1977 and in 1997.
Worse still is the money is not going to the local councils. Don’t know why I’m surprised as I said it from the start. Don’t pay We’ll take it from you anyway.
We had property tax in 1996?
Even the least cynical ignoramus cannot deny there is an election coming up , ffs Joan get a reality check you’re advisors are shite.
Doesn’t she not have an advisor to advise the others and herself too?
Electioneering.
Too little too late…enjoy the political wilderness Moany !
Obliteration for FG/Lab is coming……real soon…..
Can’t wait for next Election , goodbye Labour.
Lol so labour think they can buy election!!! Bye bye labour
Hello Kelly? Do you mean?
I said hello, Kelly,
Well, hello, Kelly
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong
You’re lookin’ swell, Kelly
I can tell, Kelly
You’re still glowin’
You’re still crowin’
You’re still goin’ strong
I feel that room swayin’
While the band’s playin’
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So take her wrap, fellas
Find her an empty lap, fellas
Kelly’ll never go away again
I said hello, Kelly
Well, hello, Kelly
It’s so nice to have you back where you belong
You’re lookin’ swell, Kelly
I can tell, Kelly
You’re still glowin’
You’re still crowin’
You’re still goin’ strong
I feel the room swayin’
While that Dole band keeps on playin’
One of your old favourite songs from way back when
So golly, gee, fellas
Find her an empty knee, fellas
KELLY’ll never go away
I said she’ll never go away
Kelly’ll never go away again
I’ve read about this before in the UK. It’s called fiscal creep where the government don’t recalculate prices when they go down, it’s a way of raising revenue. Its an unjust tax that doesn’t take account of a person’s income.
Bin the bill Saturday April 18th Parnell Square. Let’s bin this Government too.
See u nxt Tuesdays
S should be a C….
Let me rack my brain for reason not to believe a word out of her mouth.
For a minute there I thought I read scrap it.
Cap the back of me sack Enda
Silly woman so many promises this government are making where does she think the money is going to come from?
Any chance of capping rents instead no?
…..until after the general election anyway….
There’s a time and a place for everything.
Electioneering on the 99th commemoration of the Easter Rising is a good example for anybody.
Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres.
- Voltaire
* isn’t dammit!
There is no might about it, it was always going to be recapped at the current rates. It will be scrapped by 2020 anyway!
The same will happen with Irish Water, it will either be capped or scrapped by 2020!
Water charges will be scrapped after the next general election (2016) because it will be a red line issue for all the opposition parties.
That won’t happen. Once IW is operating properly and it’s reliance on general taxation is reduced it will be accepted by all but the most extreme
I wish she’d just fack off!
Jack Bowden – did you give yourself a green thumb for your insightful comment! Honestly – if you think it’s a fair tax you deserve to be fleeced by this govt. It’s one of the most unfair taxes of them all. Its a tax on homes – not business premises. You probably don’t like people who are paying fortunes in mortgage payments for their homes either. Taxed for trying to live under a bloody roof. I think there should be a tax applied to morons like you for wasting valuable oxygen. Twit.
Crap, crap and more crap.
And wait until the water charges come in and watch them rise and rise and here’s some people “happy” to pay that tax too even though they already pay
I’m gonna turn cowshit into gold and walk on water (fully paid for of course). Gi’s a job Enda. I can spoof all day long for the right pay.
Sorry Ed Enda already has his well paid advisor’s maybe after the next election?
How about introduce a real property tax? This is a household tax which is not the same thing.
A capped household tax obviously benefits the wealthy more than the poor, so while not quite regressive is certainly in the same spirit as a regressive tax. Still, not quite as disgusting as someone living on 150 acres only having to pay the same as someone down the road with only a single acre of land, and all the while pulling in a minister for finance’s salary.
Those that benefit here are the higher value properties, those in ordinary houses will not gain, those in bog standard Killiney mansions will be the winners, hardly the labour vote.
Berkely Park Socialists comes to mind
Where is Berkley Park?
Hi Harold, Berkeley Court is exactly at the opposite end of the spectrum from the Labour Party roots, very easy to find for any true labour supporter
Family homes are not
Wealth … can’t earn a revenue stream from them
Assets … can’t liquidate them … nowhere to live
Property like farm land which UNTAXED.
Political Parties are just Private Clubs … financial predators … this cap fits well.
@Neuville -, fully agree , if my house value increases by 15 thousand euros , it certainly does not mean that I have 15 thousand euros extra in my pocket , so why should my “property tax” increase , i definitely do not have ANY extra money in my pocket to donate to government pensions and unearned salaries , my OA pension is still €225 each week.
Personally, I found the property tax far more objectionable than water charges.
My father got redundancy in the 80s & he built a house with his bare hands with the money & raised my family in it. He worked hard for that money, paid his taxes, his mortgage & his dues.
He has since passed.
Why the fcuk should my mother have to hand over money to these fcukers for the privilege of retiring in that same house all these years later?
Sorry lousy bsatards…
@Jimmy , fully agrree , but “Jack ” objects it seems.
Did them clowns think house prices would not rise
Another Labour Lie
Pensioners have to pay property tax out of their lousie pensions , and God help you if you have to go to a nursing home they take another chunk out of your house . Thanks to that bitch Harney who’s gone off counting her big fat pension . Why did that bitch call it the fair deal sceam what’s fair about it
Let’s just have the young pay for everything
Tell me about it Maureen. At the moment my mother is in hospital with pneumonia. She also.has dementia. God knows what we’ll have to pay when she goes into a nursing home. The house is in rag order as she refused to have leaks etc repaired but she’s still paying Lpt on what it was worth when it was in good condition. My father paid rates and water rates on it for years before they were abolished. Now they want to get the house valued and any savings taken into consideration before.they see if we’re eligible for the fair deal scheme. Not to mention she’ll have to pay water tax although she hasn’t been living there for 2 months.
And if she’s not eligible for the fair deal scheme it will mean either my brother or myself will have to.look after her which neither of us would mind doing if she was in her right mind but you have no idea how awful it is to look after a person who no longer knows who you are and who has to be kept an eye on 24/7 even while asleep as you.don’t know how long they’ll sleep or what they’re going to do when awake
My heart goes out to you, my Dad passed away good friday, he was so frustrated by all the new taxes and trying to pay them from his oap, used to sit in the kitchen with his coat on and central heating off to save money.. He built the house himself back in the 70′s.. I am going to write a detailed article after the funeral and post it here as well as delivering it personally to the ‘cute hoors’ in goverment.
@Barry , my thoughts are with you , and I will read your article , but the cute hoors in Leinster House wont give a toss.
oh , lord Jack , poor boy , I live in a modest house paid for in full through hard work , I have a 10 year old car , a 9 year old laptop on its last legs , I am 70 years old , and I am actually trying to exists on an O A pension of 225 eu a week , can you be as honest as that ,??
Every word that comes out of Burtons mouth is poison.
Last week she announced changes to the tune of pen pushers in the department of social protection being given full responsibility of granting carers allowance and taking medical out of it! I mean WTF!
Actually when I said “granting carers allowance” I really meant to say refusing a large number of applications to those truly needing it!
Keep you’re lies to yourself Joan and just go and take the rest of the lying rats with you
With you there Gerald , 100%. its so easy to talk like this when you are on a politicians salary.
I’ll presume that’s you red thumbing me jack. In which case I’ll assume you agree with allocating property tax to private business, to promoting inequality for your fellow citizens and essential services. Really jack who’s the selfish one really here. Your happy to deny hospitals schools and Garda valuable resources that we as taxpayers provide. You want to have your cake and eat it. The next time you wonder why the response time is so slow for a guard or ambulance or your child doesn’t have a swing in the local park remember that you voted for that at the last election and agree with it wholeheartedly. Your an odd one.
R J don’t mind him, it looks like this guy jacks never had to stand on his own two feet. Not his fault, I don’t mind people being wealthy through their family’s but can’t stand the ignorance when they believe that got there solely through their own endeavours. its blood boiling to see.
@Cupid , thanks for that , I appreciate it.
no probs, I don’t know what to do with people like that, it’s just annoying, Im 47 two kids don’t sign on and self employed, driving a ten year old car as well. But on the flip side I’ve never had a tv licence and managed to stop the gestapo sorry irish water putting a meter in my property. Really the way I look at it is that the formula that these geniuses in power have inflicted on us has gotten us into real dire straits and if that’s the best they can do God help us all. The facts speak for themselves.
@Cupid , as i said , I am 70 years old , I see what is going on in my country , I have to trust in the younger population to do something about it , the fight has gone out of me now , I have done my bit, dont have the strength to fight on any more , and so sad to see fools like bowden making excuses for the wrongs that are being done to our country.
RJ you might not be able to actively participate fully but your knowledge and vote and option not to support these quangos is invaluable.for the rest of us. People such as yourself are badly needed, you and others like you are the ones that the govt think support them, but they’re so wrong in that assumption.
Bowden- you are a half wit or perhaps a quarter wit ! Go away you useless hair brained tosser.
A great proud day for all remembering all who fought bravely on all sides to achieve their goals . Standing together with one another .
Labour wants to cap property cap for the rich?
Same kind of reason given for not taxing child benefit.
“Labour” only in name…
I think a property tax is a very fair tax. The more valuable your properties the more you pay.
I don’t feel sorry for anyone who’s properties have increased a lot so they’ll have to pay more property tax.
Why have we this perception that if you make money you should give it away in taxes. No wonder we have highest taxes in the world.
Property tax on Family Homes is not a fair tax because it is regressive … fails to allow for inability to pay.
A disgusting tax for disgusting societies like US where pensioners have to leave their family homes due to the obscene tax on their homes …$6000 per annum average in New Jersey.
Political Parties are Financial Predators who max citizens taxes for their own interests like landlords who max your rent and banks who max your debt. Bring your brains to the polling booths.
Because we need money for hospitals, social welfare and the Gardai.
@JBowden Get your head around this
CSO figures for average public and private sector pay – 2013.
€565 : UK average private sector weekly pay.
€581 : UK average public sector weekly pay.
Difference : 3%.
€623 : Irish average private sector weekly pay.
€929 : Irish average public sector weekly pay.
Difference : 49%. reduced to 43.24% in April 2014.
- 300,000 Irish Private Sector workers overboard since 2008
what are you on about Bowden , an increase in the value of a property does not men an increase in the amount of money in your pocket , you clown , 225€ a week will still be 225€ a week OA pension. you seem to be as stupid as our so called politicians.
Fallon if they reduced the state pension they could have avoided introducing this property tax. The government decided not to cut the state pension. We can’t keep spending more than we take in with taxes forever.
OK , will the two red thumbers come back and attempt to contradict me then.??
In theory that would be great jack but instead it’s used as a slush fund to prop up private business like Irish water. Don’t forget that €390 million of hospitals social welfare and Garda money has been diverted into Irish water this year. Bet they didn’t tell you that when it was brought in and it’ll only get worse and no doubt it’ll go up and up. You’ll say o why don’t you just sell and buy a cheaper house but so are we meant to buy and sell our houses every few years now to keep pace with the market so that we can fund Irish water. It’s crazy stuff.
Maybe they gave you red thumbs because I didn’t say an increase in property values are directly related to someone’s income.
We already have a 50% income tax rate. Do you want that higher?
@bowden , are you old enough to be entitled to receive a pension, ?? have you been paying your taxes and PRSI for the past 50 years , ?? My 250 eu a week has been well earned and well deserved , tell me why I should have to give any of it to a corrupt bunch of gangsters ..BTW , my name is not FALLON , kindly address me with respect , .
Jack no one wants higher taxes, but they’d like their taxes spent wisely, for example government ministers pensions and perks are off the wall, why should my taxes go to provide exorbitant lavish lifestyles when these same taxes could go towards reducing poverty and ill health in Irish citizens. I’ll tell you why it doesn’t happen, it’s because the same people benefiting from huge pensions are the same ones who decide who gets what. My taxes are being frittered away on lavish dinners in the raddison and golf courses in the algarge by our so called leaders. Shame on them. 1916 my arse.
RJ. You are a selfish clown just out for your own interests. You are rude.
Jack I’m sorry but your lack of knowledge as to the facts behind the farce that is the property tax must surely be down to either reading government pamphlets or simply not bothering to educate yourself. Please do yourself a favour and read up on it coz you just come across as silly.
Buddy , I have never been selfish , i have never been a politician therefore I have never been a clown , and my good friends will confirm that I am certainly not rude , now run along please , this conversation might well result in me being rude, but only towards you..by the way , what are “my own interests ” besides from trying to exists on 225eu a week, ??
RJ Fallon wants higher taxes for everyone as long as he’s not paying them. He probably lives in a mansion. I’m not talking to selfish people like that anymore. They don’t want to pay for anything and they want as much as possible from everyone else. End of conversation.
Jack. Listen your in denial on this one.
U
P
D
E
K
C
U
F
That’s fuc ked up
Already pay over 400 in Meath for a house worth less than 200,000. If that goes up we’ll have to start knocking rooms to lower the value.
That’s doesn’t sound right, you should be paying well under three hundred. You might want to look into it.
Nope went through months of fighting it. People we bought the house from overvalued it by around 20,000 pushing it into the 199,000 band which in Meath is over 400 a year. And it’s fixed at that until 2016.
Brilliant electioneering, what a shower of ……..
Liars
Must be some kind of election on the horizon! Would it be better to be in government for the centenary of 1916, when the discussion of where we’ve been as a country for 100 years occurs, or to call an election before that?
Only a new government in 2016 would have any basis to talk about the future and not the past or especially the recent past. My point is that would FG/Labour want to be holding an election at a time when the contrast between the hope of 1916 and what happened in reality occurs? It doesn’t take much imagination to realise what the contrast is!
Already paying for water in Car Tax and Property Tax. Reduce these and then people might reconsider.
If fact those who can least afford to are paying the higher car tax (pre-2008 cars) and are subsidising both the Car Tax and Water Tax of the “well offs” who can afford NEW CARS with the LOW CAR TAX …. are ye for real?
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=750681811697373&l=1993076453636468339
OMG brst gov everrrr. Was it not enda kenny that said a tax on a person’s home is a crime? And thank you for bringing it in and we should be so greatful they are putting a cap in it.
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