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11 Sep 1996 Dear Judge Bone: Attached you will find another copy of a letter which was NOT read by you. I regret the mix-up on this -- I had talked to Mr. Y and a copy of the letter had been sent to both sides (and is being sent again). This letter should have been part of the "papers" supporting the show cause order. Your honor, I hope you will take the time to read it now. It discusses my concerns that some of my basic rights in this process are being violated -- not to mention the best interests of our son, Nick. I enjoy history and can't help but recall the story of Mrs. Rosa Parks, of Selma, Alabama. Who got on a bus and "would not move to the back." How many countless blacks before here had been forced to "move to the back of the bus", and how many had been sentenced and jailed for not doing so (and were never heard from again), and how many people would have said, "that is just the way things are." Your honor, I am not a lawyer, but I do know what Justice is -- and I'm sure Mrs. Parks knew what Justice was -- and that is why I keep asking for a mistrial. Judge Bone, everytime I leave your presence I just "can't figure it out." You seem like a pretty nice man, you show a lot of patience with me (compared to the horror stories I've heard about some judges) -- but when it comes to OUR son Nick, you want me to "move to the back." (and I guess there were a lot of good judges in Selma who couldn't understand why blacks didn't want to "move to the back"). Our society has to "wake up" and realize that "equal rights" also includes fathers. I don't know how to make that happen in our community, but I am going to give it a lot of thought. And maybe I am all wrong, and maybe my appeal(s) will be denied, and maybe I will be "forced to the back" of my son's life -- but a person has to have the courage of their convictions: I've done work for my community, the elderly, for the homeless -- of course I will do everything I can for my own son (what do I have of more value?) -- I will not easily "move to the back" of his life. Respectfully yours, Jim Smith 
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