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Name: Date:	sevenhawks 03/08/10
Dreamjournal website down??? I cant get on...
Name: From: Date:	Jemma MA 02/12/10
Hi, This is such a sad story. It is important that people are made aware of harmful practices that are used to "reform" children. I noticed you use the term behavior modification to indicate practices that strip people of human/civil rights and take away their identity. I'm afraid this is innacurate. Behavior modification is a vague term that consists of many different strategies and practices. It is, quite literally, the changing of behaviors. Many, many programs and practices use behavior modification to help children and families make positive changes in behavior which will grant that child more independence and more refined social skills. Behavior modification could refer to replacing screaming with saying "I'm hungry" to obtain food or teaching someone how to brush their teeth or do math homework. I think this story could have even more of an impact if the term behavior modification was taken out.
Name: From: Date:	jennifer somerville ma 02/06/10
thanx for your story I was in straight @ 14 now I'm 35 and it destoyed my life and my mother says give me a break there was no abuse yet that's why she took me out and us and other families were supposed to go on the news and one by one they dropped out like flies including my family I was so mad at them and have felt guilt tear through my soul but now I'm ready for action and have come to find out that when one shuts down another one opens jeb bush and many elects under him are on the straight board or whatever they call it now the 2 bushes are inolved including a czar in the white house nancy reagan also supports it and many more bush the 2 also visited I believe the 1 I was in these people thrive on greed and its a little shady that jeb bush has so many officials under him that I've yet to name . it makes ya wonder. thank you so much and everyone else for postings and compassion I've never used a computer . and don't know how to use one. my hubby got a new comp phone with internet and one night iasked him to look up straight and couldn't believe what I saw. a dream come true. the happiest and saddest moment of my life. still my dream. it opened up a door I thoght I'd never find and I wii not be silenced no more.. now with everybreath iwill fight thanx to you and everyonels who've made it possi ble
Name: From: Date:	Bill Alexandria 12/09/09
I can't imagine what it must have been like to lose your brother to straight. I lost a friend to them in 1990 after she overdosed, possibly a suicide, maybe accidental, no one really knows. That they still exist in any form and that the Semblers have had no legal repercussions is sickening.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Che Gookin China Vagina Red 09/15/09
Just saying Hi! Stay out of trouble!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Jess Rochester, NY Blue 07/07/09
Your story brought me to tears. The people that created this program and managed it had a lack of understanding for themselves and the world around them and therefore were abusive to innocent people. I'm going to school to become a social worker and it is stories like these that encourage me to do my best to understand everyone and everything around me so I don't end up with the sad sad life of one of those people that managed straight inc. I'm so sorry for your loss and I hope that your heart heals, but your brothers memory doesnt fade.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	vijairaj india sky blue 05/30/09
I just got your web site through itimes portal. Very nice to go through the articles. Nice to congratulate u.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Steve Brown Jackson MS green 05/23/09
I was in Atlanta Straight 83-85. Own my own biz now. Possibly interested in getting you to do a website for me.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Chris Barnes Annapolis green 05/22/09
It is hard to see the suicides. I heard that David Bach had killed himself -- he wasn't on you list. I lived at his house for a few weeks. I was in Springfield from Dec 27 1985 to around June of 86. I remember your brother.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	theresa brinkley howard atl ga green 05/07/09
straight survivor atlanta ga 1992-1993
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	lisa ledford Chattanooga Pink 04/17/09
I was in Straight in St. Pete. I think it was 82 and 83. I was there 13 months and think it really did scare me for life. I am so sorry about your brother. It is so sad that parents could not or would not see what was really going on.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Kelly Matthews test test 03/25/09
test
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Curtis Sowers Virginia Red 02/09/09
I was a sibling in Straight in the late 80's in VA. My brother is Eric Sowers. Straight completely destroyed my family and my brothers life and sense of self-worth in particular. And the truly sad part is, my bro is worse off today than he ever was, living on the streets of Myrtle Beach, smoking crack and prostituting himself. Thanks alot, Straight. Every time I hear "Country Road" I get a sick feeling in my stomach. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to be a phaser. I'll never forget....
Name: Date:	Bred 01/15/09
car insurance http:/andrabs.narod.ru
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Tommy Bourne Maryland Blue 01/07/09
Thank you for sharing your story and all the information about straight. I was springfield 86-87. Are there social networks for survivors? I found 1 or two before but have been turned off by some of the extreme religious aspects of some of the places I have found.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Rich Mullinax Athens, GA none 01/04/09
I found 2008 disturbing and decided to reply later. It's later.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	heather italy green 11/30/08
Hi Kelly!
Name: Date:	sevenhawks 11/30/08
i came to check out your site...(very, very cool) ...also I was wondering if you could start a new forum topic devoted specifically to precognitive/prophetic dreams???
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Amy Virginia Black 10/20/08
I was in Straight back in 1990. I am deeply sorry for the loss of your brother. The program really hurt a lot of people, myself included. Thank you for your site, it is a wonderful tribute.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Jianulla zimmerman Redondo Beach, CA purple 10/15/08
You look like a "crazy cat".
Name: Fav Color: Date:	oceanchildf blue 08/31/08
great website! (as are all of yours) ..
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Onnie NC Deep Blue 07/28/08
Came accross your site I had a Dream Journal, well still have just empty. I wasnted to touch base sat Hi and give my conmdolences about Aaliyah.. keep dreaming.. good things awats hide just beyond the relm.
Name: Date:	cieldumort 07/23/08
Hi! :)
Name: From: Date:	Steve Charlotte, NC 06/11/08
I was in the VA program in 1983 - 1984 and knew Steve. I am very sorry to hear what happend to him. After reading many stories like his, I consider myself lucky to still be around and have a somewhat "normal" life. I just wrote an email to Mel Riddile who is of all things a HS principal, what a joke. I doubt he will respond but it felt good to get it off my chest after all these years of suppressing it. Here is what I wrote: Dear Mr. Riddile, My name is Steve English and I was in the VA Straight program in 1983 when you were the Director. Over the years I have always wondered what I would say to you or one of your staff members if ever given the chance. I have read a lot of information about the treatment of kids in the program and let me be the first to say that I have first hand knowledge of the mistreatment. I was held against my will after I was taken to your facility by my parents. They were lied to by people already in the program (who I actually made fun of for being druggies) and told that I did drugs. I had only drunk alcohol a total of 3 times in my entire life but spent 10 months of my life enduring the intolerable treatment (as well as the humiliation of being held back a grade in school.) My parents finally got wise and withdrew me after I had made it to fourth phase. You and the rest of the staff knew that something had been terribly wrong because you advanced me in the program even though I never caved in and admitted to doing a single drug and the others had admitted to lying. And please do not respond with the “dry druggie” crap. I was into sports and just was having some behavioral problems at school and rebelling like so many kids do at that age. I remember when my parents told me that I was being taken out of the program, I was so brainwashed that I walked seven miles from Burke to Springfield to get back to the building (I guess 10-12 hours a day of being told that I am a worthless druggie and can’t live without Straight Inc. will do that.) When I arrived, my parents were there to take me back home. Ironic isn’t it that most try to get out and I was trying to get back in. You and your staff were there too but did not put up a fight and said it was for the best for my parent to withdraw me. This was a complete 180 from when you did my intake and I was beat up, held down, and restrained. You knew I did not belong but you continued to let me stay so you could collect a check form my parents. If I had any sense back then or if I wasn’t only 16, I would have sued you and the program. I also witnessed the mistreatment done to myself and many others. During my time, I was physically abused (slapped, punched, kicked, spit on, etc.) when I did not follow a rule or would not admit that I had taken multiple drugs. During one meeting, that you held by the way, I was not allowed to use the rest room until after. After repeated raising my hand and being denied, my bladder was shaking and hurting so bad that I ran to the toilet and missed urinating in my pant by seconds. I also received horrible treatment from host families as well. I was not allowed to shower or brush my teeth daily. I once was not allowed to brush my teeth for three days. I was given peanut butter (no jelly) sandwiches for dinner while the rest of the family ate chicken and other things. I was repeatedly berated and told by my “newcomer” that he was told to “ride my ass” until I admitted all the drugs I had done. This included more hitting, not being allowed to sleep, eating candy and ice cream in front of me for dessert when I had not even been given dinner. Basically this was POW camp for kids. I am now 40 years old, married and have two kids. I am also a successful benefits broker. To this day, I am still haunted by what happened 25 years ago. At this point in my life, this is behind me but not forgotten. I am lucky that I was able to do this unlike so many others who ended up really messed up or worse dead (suicide, not from the drugs by the way). I am not looking for anything from you except an apology. Either directly or without your knowledge, (which I highly doubt) you allowed these things to happen and still support programs like it today but with different names. Please do not just ignore my email. At least respond to me. At least give me that much respect and dignity. Sincerely, Steven A. English
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Angel Fairfax, VA Red 04/04/08
I was in the Springfield facility from 84-86. I was reading the last few posts and I just found all of this stuff online and I just wanted to comment that although one person didn't experience something at their facility doens't mean that the memories everyone has shared about abuse should be invalidated. I didn't graduate the program, I decided to not be in straight anymore after making it to 5th phase. I didn't leave the program because I wanted to get high, I just didn't want to be there anymore. I stayed with my friends that had 7th stepped and remained sober until I turned 18 which is when I decided to figure out if I really had an addiction. I can say with great pride that I do not have an addition to anything except for cigs which isn't but a few a day. The things I witnessed at Straight were pretty harsh and I just happened to walk in on stuff I wasn't meant to see. I witnessed the light torture and sleep deprivation, I personally know someone that was denied any food for weeks other then apples and water. I had to restrain a person I cared deeply about and although I know that sometimes people got violent its only because they wanted escape, well we all considered it in the beginning (unless your an adult who admitted yourself) and lets be honest, someon people got off on restraining. the fact is that everyone had a different experience but for the most part, the things we witnessed were real and totally unhealthy. Straight breed some really ugly things in us that some people may never be aware of. I was never a confrontational person until I came out of that program. I will admit that I learned to pay more attention to my feelings and am able to articulate well in my day to day life, I'm even good at giving people advise and love to help others but I don't talk about my emotions very often. I have become a person who deals with things on my own and I think this has something to do with the program and its critical approach to analysing what we said to determine our sincerity or "full of shit" ness. So I'd rather not have people be critical. Not good to be a lone wolf, means I have trust issues. Anyways, I will be honest and say that there are things I learned in straight that were good and bad, I can't credit it with saving me only because I do not believe I was an addict going in, I believe that I know how to judge my nature and I was just kid doing all the crazy stuff kids do. Like my 20 year old son, I would have grown out of it just like he did. He experimented and that was that. To bad I will never fully know what I would have become without straight. I am lucky to have been a person to escape all of its abuses to grow into someone who is successful and productive and is capable of long lasting relationships. That being said, I am lucky but there are other brothers and sisters out there that haven't been so lucky and their pain is real and justified... as much as I would love to take that pain away, it belongs to them and was given to them by Straight. I remember Steve, his sad eyes and tired frame as if to display his discouragement with the world , they would put people on either side of him to force him to mentally and physically be present. I think of him when I think of straight, they made him an example, to scare us, to let us know that we could never escape, to keep it fresh in our faces that compliance with be expected 'Or Else". My mother remembers his passing as does everyone from that time. I am sorry they crushed his spirit and I'm sorry he left his family. I will never forget him.
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Brett Stanaker The Woodlands, Texas blue 03/20/08
Hi Kelly, Thanks for Dream Journal, it's great!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Clint Campbell San Diego, CA. Blue 03/18/08
Huzzah!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Clint Campbell San Diego, CA. Blue 03/18/08
Huzzah!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Kevin Scott Chicago Blue 02/18/08
ur site is awesome
Name: From: Date:	Go Mann Isle of Man 01/30/08
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Karen CarrollMeyer Colorado all 12/21/07
Thank you for sharing your tragedy in order to educate. I'm truly shocked and that's hard to do now days. Those of us who DON'T view teens as demented, perverted addicts need to advocate against those who do!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	najiyyah gadson Elizabeth newjersey pink yellow and black 09/21/07
hey who ever watching over this website i miss aaliyah i was her #1 fan of hers she remind me of my mother ebony hawkes my mom was a #1 fan of aaliyah 2 aaliyah you will always be my fan again love ya gege they call me for short:)
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	S.P. Cincinnati, Ohio Purple 09/19/07
Name: Date:	Shocked and moved 09/05/07
Webdiva: Your fight has moved me to tears at work. Keep getting your message out, and stay strong. Though nothing can bring your beloved brother back, your cause is keeping his death from being in vain. Again, stay strong!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	aman san diego clear 08/16/07
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Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Lola Lola Land hmmmm.... yellow. i think. 06/10/07
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Emrah Istanbul / Turkey Green 06/04/07
Very nice site... I thoroughly enjoyed it :P There's not one picture of you on any of these pages, though. Or am I wrong? Have a great day :D Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs.
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Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	STEVE STROKEVILLE, VA ORANGE 03/24/07
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Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Dan Wichita, KS Black 03/14/07
Hi Kelly.. just stopping by to say hello. Long time no talk. Hope you are doing superbulabulous. :)
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	Pauil Hussey Havant UK Blue 03/08/07
You have a really informative and interesting site-FAB!!
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	LaDonna Rhodes Montgomery Village, MD Black 02/13/07
Thanks for sharing your story. It really touched me. I'm so sorry for your loss. I too was in Straight, Va. Back in 1987 to 1989, I'm 34 years old. I still have nightmares of that place. I have bi-polar. I wish the best to you...
Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	pauly in I.B. I.B. Plaid 02/07/07
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Name: From: Fav Color: Date:	paul san diego pink pink pink 01/23/07
what's been up, sweetheart? just thought i'd see what it was about.
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Name: Date:	val 08/06/06
Keep up the good work!
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