The Social-Political alliances initiated
by individuals in the media, public and legislative sectors of Houston beginning
in September 2003 and continuing until this day have continued to derail the
release of Jon Buice. As each year passed
more and more erroneous detail about the crime that never went to trial, has over-whelmed
the thought process of many. For thirteen
years and nearly as many parole sessions the media rhetoric has been malicious in
their presentation of facts about the events that lead to the death of Paul
Broussard. Their one-sided malefic
approach has shaped public thought and opinion through "fixed images"
of a "hate crime". All opinion
contrary to those fixed images were quickly subdued and not allowed to contradict
the mindset of the Greater Houston Area general public. The voices of Ray Hill (Gay Rights Advocate),
Susan Bardwell, deceased (Police Reporter-Houston Chronical) and others have
been overshadowed by Andy Kahan (Self-anointed Victims’ Rights Advocate) though
the use of the Houston Media, and others to protest the release of Jon. (See “Conspiracy”, previous entry in this blog)
In 2015, Alison Armstrong’s documentary
“The Guy with the Knife” was released at the Dallas International Film Festival
(DIFF) (See “The Guy with the Knife”, previous entry in this blog).
It was during this showing that I became aware of Maria Gonzalez, Associate
Professor of English, University of Houston and past president of the Houston
GLBT Caucus. I quickly noticed a stark
contrast of opinion between her and Noel Freeman, (See “How is it That..”, previous entry this blog) another past president of the Houston
GLBT Caucus, but gave it little thought until Alison screened the film at the U
of H (See “Tale of Two Universities”,
previous entry in this blog). I queried Alison Armstrong, after the Dallas
showing, about Gonzalez and Alison explained to me that she was keenly
interested in the truth about Jon and had agreed to be in the documentary.
In April 2015, during the screening at
the U of H, I met Maria Gonzalez and was moved by her earnest attempt to come
to a truth in the matter of Jon. At this
showing Andy Kahan was asked about his involvement with politicians’ in the
parole of Jon. Andy exclaimed that he
could not release such information. Gonzalez
was quick to answer with the names of those politicians. My interest in her was greatly enhanced and I
asked her if she would be interested in meeting Jon, face to face. Gonzalez indicated that she was interested
and would entertain the liaison in the August time frame.
Prior to Maria Gonzalez going to visit
with Jon, I asked her to have lunch with me in order to gain some insight into her
thought processes and to impart knowledge on how Jon was raised and what my objectives
were for our meeting. Over the course of
an hour and a half we discussed how she and I came to be at the point in life
we were presently. It became apparent
that we shared many things in common as adolescents. We also came to realize that we would unite
in the cause of Jon’s parole. At this meeting she indirectly indicated that she
was familiar with John Whitmire and Garnet Coleman, having helped on their
campaigns for office and in the role they played in the parole processes of Jon.
She said she would be willing to redirect initiatives originally put into place
to keep Jon incarcerated. We did not discuss the current social-political rhetoric
about Jon; rather we both agreed that she should formulate an opinion of Jon after
her visit with him in August. Based on
meeting with Jon she could then reconsider redirection of the social-political initiatives. I left the luncheon with hope that this would
be the year my son comes home.
On Saturday, August 22, 2015, Mara Gonzalez
came face to face with the 17 year old-now 41 year old horrific homophobic
killer she believed existed in Jon since the days of the crime. Having been a frequent visitor of the
Montrose area during those days she surely felt the essence of the time. I can only imagine the emotions she had
sitting there in a small corridor of seats along the south wall of the Ramsey
Unit Visitation Building. It is
miserable at best. Even the contact
visitation area is not much better. Both
areas are crowded and noisy. The biggest
difference is that in Unit Visitation Building you have the constant arrival of
families and friends of inmates and the chatter of others seated in the cramped
visitation area. Most of the noise is
due to a plexi-glass wall with small holes in it that divides the inmate from
the visitor. One practically has to yell
to be heard over others.
I can only surmise as Maria sat there
the many things that went through her mind and what direction this meeting would
take between her and Jon: What sort of
man was Jon in reality? Is he the person
deserving of parole the documentary expresses?
Plus a hundred other questions I could not begin to know of must have
entered her mind. I can only express
here what Jon told me after their meeting later that evening and what she
expressed to me in an email following her visit.
Jon told me that evening that he felt
that the meeting was most rewarding and that Maria and he discussed everything
from his involvement in Paul’s death to his accomplishments and hopes for the
future. Jon spoke of moments when both
he and Maria were either in tears or near to them as the realities of his life
unfolded. Acceptance, Redemption,
Forgiveness, all areas of Jon’s being was laid out for Maria. Jon said that he held back nothing of what
was asked of him that day.
Later that evening I emailed Maria
asking her opinion of Jon and her view of the meeting with him. She replied, “My visit with Jon went very
well.” She expressed that she enjoyed
talking with him on numerous topics. She
said that she was impressed with his intellect and how hard he has worked to
stay above the normal inmate one expects to see in prison. Maria gave me great hope when she said, “Jim,
you have a fine son in Jon”. It made my
heart swell to hear that from someone who thought otherwise just a few years
ago.
I realized at that moment that Maria
Gonzalez, in defiance to the malfeasance of the “Hate Crime” rhetoric crowd, has
become a new supporter for the release of Jon Buice. I applaud you Maria and call you friend.
James Buice
8/27/15
