Dear Pastor,

I pray my words find you and your love ones in the best of health. Let me start off by saying that I am an avid reader of your column. I find it very informative and funny at times, but most of all I respect your everyday philosophy you pass on to individuals seeking guidance.

I write to you today to share with your readers my trials and tribulation, so they can use it as an example on what to look out for when it comes to chasing the American dream. My advice to people who are not American is to get an education and return to their country and use what they have learnt to help make their country a better place.

I was born in Hanover, Jamaica, but I migrated to Brooklyn, New York, in 1995. I became a citizen in 1999, then I graduated from high school and was enrolled in college pursing a degree in mass communication. I signed up for the army and was scheduled to leave on May 21, 2006 after my college finals.

life-changing bullet

In the midst of college finals something ultimately changed my life. I went to pick up one of my textbooks that I left at a friend's house and I came across two rival gangs arguing and shots were fired. I was hit by a strayed bullet. I went to the hospital for treatment and was apprehended for a shooting that took place in another neighbourhood. I maintained my innocence from day one and put my trust in God that the justice system and the police investigation would free me.

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Even though numerous evidence were there to show that I was innocent. There was no gunshot residue on my hand to say that I fired a gun. I was not picked out of a line-up and there were no blood or fingerprints at the crime scene for me. The victim who they accused me of shooting testified at the trial that he didn't know who shot him. I am still in prison.

The American justice system doesn't care about who is innocent or who is guilty. I am writing to tell my people to be aware because what happened to me can happen to anyone. No man or woman is exempt from the long uncaring hand of the American justice system.

- E.G.

Dear E.G.,

I was hoping that you would have said something about your lawyer and what is the length of your prison sentence. I would also like to know the charges that were laid against you and if you had appealed the case.

It is very difficult to comment on your case because you have not given much information. Nevertheless, your advice to Jamaicans would be appreciated by some, while others will reject it because they would consider that if you had not gotten yourself into trouble, this type of advice wouldn't have been given.

Pastor