From
the Fax-Net Update, a Shreveport political weekly fax:
Guest Column
By Kathy Vickery Wilfong
Some
Thoughts About Jim Brown
For those of you who have experienced the boring hours of
recovering from surgery, you know you seem to watch a little
more television than usual. So it was that I turned on the
Louisiana Public Broadcasting station.
It was an interview with Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown,
so I laid my magazine down and listened as he spoke with great
acceptance of his fate of incarceration for six months at
the Oakdale Federal Penitentiary.
This conviction will be one that will be historically challenged
because it was the first of its kind.
Brown shared with the commentator his hopes to write on this
"setback" in his life. I sat and listened intently
as he spoke of six months not being a very long time. He likened
the time to an LSU basketball season or a six-months boot
camp.
He was upbeat as any man that I have ever seen in this situation.
He had stopped at a book store and purchased 150 paperback
books, noting that hard cover books are not allowed. He plans
to do a lot of reading and preparation for a book about what
happened to him.
He was asked about the facility being like a country club.
Brown stated that you are not with the most heinous souls,
but you sleep dormitory-style, have one large shower for all
and you don't have the freedom to have dinner with your family
or sleep close to your wife. And you don't have the freedom
to go to events that mean something to your family.
That is the greatest punishment for a man that loves his family.
Time is something we cannot buy back. Brown said he has talked
with those that have been incarcerated, and he will commit
this time to learning and refurbishing himself.
Brown went on to say that he will strive to have this incarceration
benefit him and not take away from the man he is nor his love
of his family.
On this earth, we know not the fate we are to be given. The
test will be the way we accept it.
Mr. Brown has embraced this time in his life and will accept
no less than it being a period of growth. I knew his father
as being a caring and dynamic Democrat. He was so dedicated
to the equality of all people.
Jim Brown Sr., who is deceased, would have been so very proud
of his namesake as he spoke of doing what has to be done.
No complaints; just taking care of business with such class.
I will predict that the future of Jim Brown is to be watched.
His comeback will be a startling one with great conviction.
There are those of us who will be waiting for him for he shall
have much to share with us.
Kathy Vickery Wilfong, an activist with the Democratic Party,
lives in Benton.
