Would You Like To Adopt An Inmate?! 

By Brandon Bernard

[Now that I gathered your attention, let me explain?] When you adopt an inmate you have decided to make a commitment, a commitment that says you will do your necessary part to improve each others lives. That can mean mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or legally. Anyway possible. Because of my situation, I am incapacitated, unable to do the things I need to do to help others, as well as myself. I crave the chance to be human. The little things that so many take for granted. Friendship, companionship, conversation, and interaction. By adopting me, you are deciding to make a difference in one persons life. A true test of ones goodness is not what they do for people they agree with, or people who can do something equally for them. No, it is shown through what you do for those you may not necessarily agree with or totally understand. What you do for someone who doesn’t have the means to repay you nearly as substantial as you gave. That is what kindness and generosity is all about. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. The bible says; “And the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto you, In as much as ye have done it unto one of my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [Matt 25:40]Over the course of my time I have come across many people, with the noble intentions of helping. Only to watch them fade into nothing once they realize the enormity of my situation. I’m constantly engulfed in a life and death struggle with the government. Not only do I battle the perception that the outside world has of me & people I’m forced to be around. They didn’t understand that my well being, peace of mind, and literally my life rests in their hands. Once they realize this, the pressure was overwhelming and they disappeared. By choosing to adopt, you are saying to me and yourself, that you will make a difference. Also, that you will not allow our friendship to be a fad, and a passing trend.
[Something About The Inmate Your Adopting.]
My full name is Brandon Anthony Micah Bernard. I was born July 3, 1980 in San Antonio, Texas. My mother was in the military so we moved around allot (when I was younger). East coast, West coast. I’ve been to them all, until we settled into Killeen, TX at the age of 5 years old. Even though we still did move to other places, that was our main residence.
I guess I had a pretty normal childhood. Even though I was plagued by serious asthma complications, which still bother me to this day. In 1986 I started “Seventh Day Adventist Academy.” I stayed there until 7th grade. In the beginning of my 7th grade year I attended a public middle school. I played football for the 7th grade A team. Around this time my parents marriage was holding on by a thread, and later that year they divorced. When I was free, I didn’t believe that I was affected by the situation. Now I know differently. It’s kinda hard to explain. From that day on nothing ever affected me. I never got mad or angry since then. I’ve never been sad or cried. Even to this day I always smile. It’s like my emotions went into a shell, leaving all my feelings numb. Also I constantly have the need to help others. I guess that stems from the fact I couldn’t help my dad when he needed me most.
The year in sports was great. Since I was a quit and reserved child. The comradely of sports allowed me to open up a little. Plus with the situation at my house, it was a way of escaping things at home. 
After football season I went back to the academy. I stayed there until the second semester of my 8th grade year. Then I started playing basketball for the school.
After the 8th grade I attended public high school, because the academy at the time didn’t go past 8th grade. I started getting into trouble in high school. I was missing classes and acting up so much that I was finally kicked out.
By the time I got kicked out was around the same time my dad returned to my life. My mom feeling I was getting out of control sent me to live with my dad.
Living with him, I learned to be content in everything I had. We lived in a one room apartment in a rundown neighborhood, in another city (Temple).
Since it was a one room apartment, I naturally had to sleep on the couch.
Life was hard at times, we ate at the soup kitchen for diner, and the days I didn’t go to school, I also ate lunch there.
Eventually I started missing school in Temple and was kicked out yet again. This time however, I was forced to my G.E.D. when I turned 16, and fined. I did and once I received it I moved back with my mom.
When I got my G.E.D. I attempted to go back to school. To get my diploma and go to college.
School was never difficult for me. My grades were always A’s and B’s, but they started to slip again when I started to miss school.
Once I turned 17 I was extremely consumed by the outside (the streets). Staying out late, partying and drinking.
Even though I was doing this I never missed a day of church. I was always at the house with my family from sundown Fir to sundown Sat.
I never knew how far gone I was until I got locked up. The fast pace of the streets made me completely oblivious to my actions and even my consequence.
At the age of 18 I was in here.
The thing people sometimes find surprising is that I had a clean adult record and an extremely minor juvenile record. I never been to prison. I never been charged with a crime let alone a violent one.
Even with those facts the government labeled me. Unrehabilitable.
While I’ve been locked up, I’ve tried to get many organizations to help in the case of me and those around me. Unfortunately they have all refused to help because of their “lack of resources.” Then they refer me to another organization, who give me the same excuse and the pattern continues.
There is still allot I have to do before I die. I am constantly inspired by all of the apostles who had some of their greatest accomplishments while in prison.
That is what I want to do. I want to make a difference in the world. I really don’t know how or when, but I know I will.
I want to make a way for my kids. That they will realize their dreams and fulfill them.
I want to be civilized again. A concept all humans strive for. Whether locked up or free, the desire to be a productive person in a community is encoded in most.
Just because society has chosen to give up on death row inmates doesn’t mean that we are no longer human. 
The federal government has taken allot of things from the people here. 
They take out freedom, family, and in some cases they have taken some peoples sanity.
That is not enough though, to cure their hunger for complete individual destruction.
Now they have focused and succeeded in stripping federal death row inmates of one of our basic rights of being human. The right to knowledge! They have almost completely dissipated all educational programs to death row inmates. The ability to obtain knowledge is what separates us from the animals!
No matter if you are guilty or innocent, there is no reason that a person cannot better himself.
Why is a person who maybe, in his ignorance to the opportunity of a better existence, forced to stay on the same path of destruction?
One person at a time I want to show that even though a person is on death row, doesn’t mean he’s some evil monster, who preys on individuals. 
There are innocent people here, there are people who made mistakes, and unfortunately there are monsters, but we’re all human.
I’ve seen some really good individuals go, People who given the chance could of shown the world something amazing.
By adopting me you will become a part of my world. A world of destruction and despair. A world of fear and uncertainty. You adopt my dreams and aspirations and have the power to help them come true. “Grace may be free, but it doesn’t come cheap.” By being the sun in a reality that is blackened by darkness.
Remember, we’re not put on the earth to see through others, but to see others through.

Thank you.