The Afflicted Movement

In this deeply personal and heart-wrenching episode, we share our own story—a story of loss, mystery, and the relentless pursuit of answers. On May 20th, 2021, Steve Manning vanished without a trace, leaving us with unanswered questions and an unyielding determination to find him.

Our journey begins with the last time we heard from Steve, as his daughter reached out to him for his birthday and Father's Day. To our dismay, there were no responses, and our concern grew. A welfare check was requested at the place where Steve had been staying, only to be met with confusion, as the occupants claimed not to have seen him for quite some time, despite his recent presence.

The plot thickened when a week later, Steve's car was spotted down the road from my sister and brother-in-law's house, driven by someone other than Steve himself. The car led us back to the same residence where the initial welfare check had taken place. Detective Lann Kasky was called in, and an investigation was launched. However, due to the ongoing nature of the case, we cannot provide specific details.

Now, over two and a half years later, our search for Steve continues, shrouded in silence and unanswered questions. With the support of Detective Lann Kasky, Season of Justice, and a billboard on I-25, south of Belen, New Mexico, we've tried to keep Steve's case in the public eye, hoping that someone will come forward with information that could help us find him.

Our journey is a painful reminder of the anguish experienced by countless others in similar situations, waiting for answers and justice. We've started a GoFundMe account to aid in our search, but we remain committed to protecting the integrity of the case above all else.

In this episode, we share our story, our plea for answers, and our belief that God will see us through this challenging time. We ask for your prayers, support, and any information that could help us uncover the truth behind Steve Manning's disappearance.

In this thought-provoking episode, we take a deep dive into the state of justice in America, moving beyond the polarizing indictments of former President Donald J. Trump to confront a much larger issue: the alarming prevalence of injustice within the nation's legal system. We invite you to join us in an exploration of the critical questions surrounding life, liberty, property, happiness, and justice for all.

Our discussion begins with a startling revelation: various American organizations, including innocence projects, inmate advocacy groups, and national news media, have reported that approximately two million people are incarcerated in America's prisons. Even more distressing is the estimate that between 2% (40,000 people) and 10% (200,000 people) of these incarcerated individuals may have been wrongfully convicted and are, in fact, innocent. This raises a fundamental question about the integrity of America's constitutional republic and its democratic ideals. Has the pursuit of justice been overshadowed by a system that some argue has evolved into what could be described as a "Beria gambit," where individuals are targeted and crimes are constructed to fit a preconceived narrative?

Consider this: Federal district judge Jed S. Rakoff noted in 2015 that an estimated 20,000 individuals each year end up in prison for crimes they did not commit but pleaded guilty to in fear of facing harsher sentences if they went to trial. The prevalence of plea bargains has coerced many innocent people into accepting deals that compromise their innocence. According to the Chicago Tribune, in 2018, approximately 1.5 million people were in prison in the United States, with wrongful convictions estimated between 2% (30,000 people) and 10% (150,000 people) of those who "pleaded guilty but did not in fact commit the crime."

How many ordinary Americans have witnessed the harrowing possibility of a loved one, a friend, or a neighbor facing such a dilemma? The fear of lengthy sentences often pushes innocent individuals to accept negotiated plea bargains, pleading guilty to crimes they did not commit, in an attempt to minimize the collateral damage inflicted on themselves and their families, friends, and neighbors upon release. But what safeguards exist to ensure the safety and security of those wrongfully incarcerated while serving their sentences?

As we unravel these distressing realities, we reflect on the wisdom of Federalist James Madison, who, in Federalist Paper No. 51 (1788), emphasized the importance of enabling government to control the governed while obliging it to control itself. Madison spoke of "auxiliary precautions" as a means to ensure that government does not overstep its bounds and infringe upon the rights and well-being of its citizens.

In our exploration, we will consider whether these "auxiliary precautions" have been upheld or eroded over time, as we examine the role of self-serving ambiguous laws, bureaucratic regulations, and policies that can have a profound impact on the lives of ordinary Americans. Join us as we navigate the intricate web of justice, government power, and the pursuit of fairness and equity for all citizens.

In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the shadowy world of grand juries and the unbridled influence of government prosecutors. The curtain is drawn back to reveal a system where justice is often obscured by secrecy, manipulation, and the unchecked power of those who wield it.

As we explore the inner workings of grand juries, it becomes evident that they serve as the "administrative arm" of government prosecutors. These jurors are tasked with transforming the prosecutor's directed charges into indictments, seemingly aiding the prosecutor in gathering evidence, summoning witnesses, and issuing subpoenas. But beneath this façade lies a disturbing reality: prosecutors skillfully employ emotive language, high-inference rhetoric, trigger words, and images to elicit emotional responses from jurors, clouding their perception of reality. The question arises: How many jurors, driven by emotion rather than reason, inadvertently serve the prosecutor's agenda, knowing that many everyday Americans are susceptible to manipulation?

The Fifth Amendment mandates that all potential federal cases undergo grand jury review, conducted in secret, where neither the accused nor their defense attorney has the right to be present. The grand jury's sole purpose is to determine if "probable cause" exists to believe a crime was committed. However, this process is dominated by the government prosecutor, operating in a realm of secrecy and with minimal oversight, often disregarding the rules of evidence.

Critics argue that getting a grand jury to issue an indictment is so straightforward that prosecutors could "indict a ham sandwich." Grand juries are seen as overly compliant, conforming, and manipulated, serving as mere showcases for government prosecutors, as sensationalized by mainstream media. The most glaring criticism is that grand jurors may not represent a true cross-section of the community and often lack the qualifications for jury service. Unlike regular trial jurors, grand jurors are not screened for bias or provided with legal instructions; their role is simply to judge based on what the prosecutor presents. Moreover, the "probable cause" standard for issuing an indictment is far lower than the standards used in civil or criminal trials.

We also examine the question of how much weight and influence grand jury indictments have on trial juries, who may be swayed by preconceived notions that if someone was indicted, they must be guilty. Shockingly, various American organizations suggest that between 2% and 10% of people incarcerated in federal prisons may have been wrongfully indicted.

Join us as we unravel the complexities of grand juries, prosecutorial power, and their impact on the pursuit of justice in America. We aim to shed light on a system often shrouded in darkness and secrecy, where the scales of justice may be tilted against the accused.

In this thought-provoking episode, we delve deep into the question of justice in America. As the world watches the legal proceedings involving former President Donald J. Trump, we're compelled to ask whether justice will be served or if injustice will once again prevail. Beyond the high-profile cases, we explore the harsh realities faced by ordinary Americans who have experienced the devastating consequences of America's two-tiered system of justice.

Drawing inspiration from Plato's "The Republic," we contemplate the profound idea that injustice on a large scale often appears more powerful and advantageous than justice itself. We take a closer look at the experiences of countless individuals who have been wrongfully indicted, convicted, and incarcerated, their lives forever altered by a system that has failed them.

Join us as we discuss eye-opening statistics from various American organizations, including innocence projects, inmate advocacy groups, and national news media. These reports suggest that a startling percentage of incarcerated individuals—ranging from 2% to 10%—may have been wrongfully accused, arrested, or convicted. With nearly two million convicts behind bars in America, this translates to tens of thousands of potentially innocent lives forever impacted.

We also examine the ripple effect of wrongful convictions on families, friends, and neighbors. If the average family size is five and each convict has a spouse and three children at home, this means that between 160,000 and 800,000 immediate family members are enduring the collateral damage of wrongful incarceration every year.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that challenges our perceptions of justice and prompts us to consider the profound implications of a system that may have failed countless individuals and their loved ones. Is justice truly blind, or is it time for a reckoning in America's pursuit of fairness and equity under the law?

We are talking about the things you believe about yourself by your thoughts and actions are very powerful

In this part of the series, we talk about having a purpose in life and how being motivated will help you achieve this! 

This part of the series talks about getting closer to the goals that you have set! Keeping yourself accountable!

This part of the series talks about being your own motivator instead of depending on others! Learn to be your own Cheerleader!

This is part of our series to learn to be your best source of motivation and learn from within!

This is a series of Personal Reflections that can help in one aspect or another of our lives! I hope you enjoy!