Having the courage of your convictions. . .

I read in the paper today a story about a man who confessed, in Texas, to a murder he committed many years before when he was living here in Oregon. It was an interesting case, but nothing too spectacular except that he confessed in Richardson, Texas, where I used to live.

It didn't cross my mind again until I came home and opened my email to see this:

greetings fabulous legal activists,

i don't mean to bug u, but do u know of anyone who might be able to help this guy? his name is david lee patterson, and he killed a close friend of mine some years ago, and apparently just turned himself in down in texas. he's waived extradition and should be back in pdx shortly. he's lived on the streets for most of his life, and likely can't afford good legal help. i would really like to see him get the representation he deserves. i think the person he killed would want that too. here's the story.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/03/373931.shtml

lemme know if u know of anyone who can help. it may be that he will find his own legal assistance, but in case not, i thought it would be good to see what i could do.

This, to me takes tremendous courage and strength to be able to set aside whatever feelings you may be having in order to extend a hand to help--because it's the right thing to do. I am awestruck by the self-less nature of the request and hope beyond hope that if I am ever called upon to make a difficult decision such as this, that I would have the wherewithal and character to choose as wisely as this person has.

Comments

[monica]

jake,
just been reading about this story in our dallas paper. their account definitely differs from what you have presented. yep, there are always two sides!
if you continue to follow this, keep me posted. once he goes back to oregon, i doubt we'll hear more.