About Jesse Suhanec

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Jesse Suhanec has created 17 blog entries.

Real Prisoners Are Real People: Meet David

2020-02-12T18:25:07+00:00By |Inmate Spotlight, Veterans|

I first shook hands with David in the winter of ’18. I remember his grasp being firm, strong and — above all — sincere. When we first spoke, David told me that he had just gotten a transfer from another institution on the sole basis he wanted to be part of our Veterans Project in order to not only surround himself with a community of other veterans but also help him with his VA benefits. Because of his age I assumed he had served sometime in the 60’s or 70’s. My [...]

Read More

Why Trump Sucks at Foreign Affairs

2019-10-09T19:55:03+00:00By |Activism|

For the longest time, I’ve equated the Republican Party with an aggressive, pro-democracy foreign policy. If one was to look at previous Republican presidents, what comes to mind are names like Reagan and Bush. What most Republican presidents had in common during their presidencies is the fact that each entered the world stage with the intention of not only securing our rights and freedoms from foreign threats but also help to secure it for people who are not American. Look back to November 1989 when the Berlin [...]

Read More

Veterans Project Prevents Violence, Rescues Puppies and Reduces Recidivism

2019-09-24T02:51:35+00:00By |Veterans|

Two years ago, while wearing an orange jumpsuit and riding on a white bus with barred windows, I braced myself mentally for what prison was going to be like. A flood of questions entered my mind: Would I be jumped? Would a bunch of neo-Nazis try to force me into being a skin head like in American History X? Would they stab me when I refused? Were the guards as oppressive as in Shawshank? Would my cellmate be a jackass? After the guy sitting next to me told me the story [...]

Read More

Epstein’s Death: Why Are You Surprised America?

2020-02-11T23:32:13+00:00By |Activism|

As someone who was and is subjected to the American criminal justice system, I find it laughable that the talking heads on CNN and Fox News have been upset and surprised over the suicide of billionaire sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. What is so laughable are the facts that: 1. They are surprised that he was able to kill himself; and 2. In order to cope with the reality of how fallible our criminal justice system is people are reporting all kinds of conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein’s demise. Was Epstein assassinated by the [...]

Read More

Real Prisoners Are Real People: Meet Scott

2020-02-11T23:17:53+00:00By |Inmate Spotlight, Veterans|

I was introduced to Scott through another inmate. According to the inmate, Scott was a Korean War veteran who needed help typing up legal documents for a clemency appeal. Suffice to say, I felt compelled to help him, especially because he was a fellow Ranger-tabbed veteran. When I approached Scott and offered my assistance, he told me his story. For the last 10 years, Scott had been incarcerated. Currently over 70 years old and with over a decade left on his sentence, Scott was trying everything he could for a chance [...]

Read More

Lessons From My Team Leader: Liberalism Versus Conservatism

2020-02-12T18:44:42+00:00By |Activism|

Recently, I wrote one of my favorite Ranger fire team leaders about some internal conflicts I had about the current U.S. government and the political ideologies that proliferate it. Never in my life have I seen the nation so divided when it comes to politics. On a personal level, I’ve always been conflicted over what political party I should be affiliated with. While I have certain conservative views on things, I also – because of my nature – have what some would call liberal views. These liberal views include feminism, equal rights regardless of race, gender or sexuality, prison reform, [...]

Read More

The Difference Between a Soldier and a Civilian

2020-02-12T18:58:16+00:00By |Activism|

If someone were to ask you what the difference between a soldier and a civilian is, would you know what to say? Recently, I was handed a book that asked (as well as answered) the same question. “The difference…lies in the field of civic virtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life. The civilian does not.” (Heinlein, Starship Troopers, pages 32-33) In our case as Americans, the body politic (the people of a nation, state, or society considered collectively as an [...]

Read More

Death of a Farmer

2019-07-18T22:16:47+00:00By |Creative Writing|

All I ever wanted was a farm. Unfortunately, I no longer see how that’s possible given the fact that I have a bayonet lodged inside my gut. Brushing my teeth this morning, I didn’t really want to believe it’d be me today. As the cold steel enters my intestines, I find humor in the fact that you never really think something bad will happen to you until it does. I can’t even see the guy’s eyes who’s stabbing me. The brim of his hat conceals the upper part of his bearded, grime-covered face. He’s grimacing and I am led to [...]

Read More

How “Rogue One” Inspires Me

2020-02-12T18:50:52+00:00By |Activism|

The last movie that TNT played as a part of their “May the 4th Be With You” Star Wars Marathon was the film “Rogue One.” Set just before the events of episode IV: A New Hope, the film’s plot centers around a young galactic misfit by the name of Jyn, played by actress Felicity Jones. The story essentially revolves around a desperate attempt made by Jyn and the rest of the Rebel Alliance to steal the Death Star plans from the clutches of the Evil Empire in order to save the galaxy from tyranny and genocide. Along the way, Jyn [...]

Read More

Heathens Vox Stands with the People of Hong Kong

2019-07-18T22:18:20+00:00By |Activism|

On the front page of my Thursday copy of The Wall Street Journal, there is an image of a Hong Kong police officer firing a tear gas canister into a group of protestors. Suffice to say, I was caught off guard and even more so when I found out why the people of Hong Kong were protesting. According to the Journal, over one million people have taken to the streets of Hong Kong to express their discontent with their government move to push a bill into law that will “allow extradition of alleged criminals to [mainland] China” (A1). The article [...]

Read More

Real Prisoners Are Real People: Meet Bruno

2020-02-11T23:50:01+00:00By |Inmate Spotlight, Veterans|

When I first met Bruno, I knew we would become good friends. Over the next few months, I got to know him as not just a good friend, but a fellow infantry combat veteran and trusted ally. One day, Bruno told me about how he grew up, joined in the army, and why he was in prison. What follows is Bruno’s story. Bruno was born in 1983 and spent a happy childhood in Burbank, California. Adopted, he lived in a nice house with well-to-do parents: his father was a Korean War Combat Veteran and his mother was a homemaker. As [...]

Read More

Honoring Our Veterans

2019-09-03T18:33:04+00:00By |Activism, Veterans|

As I walked to flag detail on this Memorial Day, I felt honored to lead the veterans in raising the flag. As a group of individuals who have served in our nation’s military, we represent a very diverse group of individuals; we are white, black, straight, gay, Christian, Heathen, and everything in between. Despite our differences, we come together every day as a group to salute our nation’s flag. Today, however, we salute not only our nation but those who have fallen in service to it. Personally, Memorial Day brings to mind my Airborne Rangers in the Sky: Benjamin, Tyler, [...]

Read More

Real Prisoners Are Real People: Meet Matt

2020-02-11T23:28:29+00:00By |Inmate Spotlight, Veterans|

I first met Matt in a college course titled English 271: Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature. When I first arrived to “ENG 271” it surprised me that the class involved so much reading and writing. Since it was my first college class, I felt as though I had jumped into the deep end. I had never written a college essay before and thus felt decently unprepared when I received the workload.When we got our scores back for our first essay, Matt had this somewhat cocky grin on his face. I wasn’t grinning. I was scowling. I had busted my ass [...]

Read More

College Dreams

2020-02-12T00:01:02+00:00By |Education in Prison|

I have always dreamed of going to college. As an active-duty Army Ranger, I used to envision how great it would be to walk on a college campus, attend college events, and have the freedom to pursue my own way in the world. I often thought of being a student and succeeding in the world. However, during my time in the military, I felt conflicted about whether to re-enlist or retire from duty. In all honesty, it was a while before I decided that pursuing a college degree was exactly what I wanted to do. My decision came during [...]

Read More

Real Prisoners Are Real People: Meet Dan

2020-02-12T18:19:48+00:00By |Inmate Spotlight|

A few days ago, I sat down with my friend, Dan, whom I had met through the Coyote Ridge Dogs Program. Dan had been over to our side of the “pod” training his husky mix puppy to be prepared for adoption. As the sunlight penetrated the dayroom, Dan seemed content. Recently, while brainstorming ideas for blog content, I thought about how I could show the world that many of us in prison are making a concerted effort to better ourselves as well as the world around us. When I saw Dan show up at my door, I thought he [...]

Read More

Why I Became a Teacher’s Aide in Prison

2020-02-12T18:24:29+00:00By |Education in Prison|

It's 1250 in Eastern Washington and for the first time in a while, I'm feeling nervous. I've found myself, once again, with an annoying but familiar pang of anxiety swelling in my gut. Five years ago I had the same feeling. It was dark, but I could see thanks to the green blur of my night-vision. Surrounding me in the metallic interior of the Chinook were my brothers, armed to the teeth with the latest in military weaponry. Today I have found myself a part of a different war. Instead of guns, there are pencils. Instead of a grenade [...]

Read More

Lt. Boggess and the Battered Bastards

2018-07-12T02:52:46+00:00By |Creative Writing|

Lt. Boggess' muscles swelled as he pushed the heavy steel top-hatch of his Sherman open then popped his head outside. Like a hare awakening from hibernation, Boggess eyed the wind-swept fields of Belgium, relieved to see the vast stretches of snow finally melting. Fresh air flowed towards his face and entered his nostrils. As Boggess felt the warm spring air on his face, he happily concluded that there will be no more cracked lips, chilblains or bone-chilling breezes. For the last few months, Boggess and his fellow tankers of the 4th Armored Division have been fighting an uphill battle [...]

Read More
Copyright 2025 | Heathen's Vox | All Rights Reserved | Website by Pink Sky Studios
Go to Top