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Make it or Break it
William had strong feelings about social injustice, he had dreams of a better world and believed he could make a difference.
I remember January 1953 when two men knocked at the door and said, "The doctor at the State Hospital wants to see you." I went along, made no objection when they ushered me into the hospital building to answer a few questions by the doctor, nor when they opened a heavy locked door and said "Step inside for a couple of days." That "couple days" became nearly two years. Keeping meticulous notes during his hospitalization, William wrote: I am tired of hearing Dr. L... and others tell me, "You re a very sick man", and by "sick" meaning crazy, but never telling me why or how I am that way, for, they say, "You're too sick to understand explanations." So my ideas have to be "knocked out" by volts of electricity. All I would have to do to gain my freedom is to pretend that I no longer hold certain beliefs, and answer questions the way I know the doctors would prefer that I answer them. But I will not do this. Instead, I keep my faith. |