In Loving Memory of Ricky Rodriguez

Nothing I can say will do justice the pain and emotion I felt when seeing what ruin the cult has brought to such a bright and innocent young man. What a waste!

Rick, I never got a chance—which I now regret—to talk to you, I just walked by. Thinking to myself that you were "one of them" (cult lovers). I'm sorry I judged you before even letting you speak your piece, or realizing what they put you through and how you felt. That night was the beginning of the end for me, I'm so glad I got out as soon as I did. And I'm glad for you that you were able to experience at least some partial normality before the end.

Nothing can erase the memories, but please know that your sacrifice was not in vain. You live on in my heart every day. Knowing that someone like you realizes what we went through and has felt our pain, gives me hope that one day our entire generation will wake up to reality.

I dedicate this to you Rick; You were the "New Blood" they are eternally the "Unforgiven".

New blood joins this earth, yet quickly he's subdued.
Through constant pain, disgrace the young boy learns their rules.
With time the child draws in, this whipping boy done wrong.
Deprived of all his thoughts, the young man struggles on.
And on he's known ... a vow unto his own:
That never from this day his will they'll take away.

What I've felt, what I've known, never shine through in what I've shown.
Never be, never see won't see what might have been.
What I've felt, what I've know, never shine through in what I've shown.
Never free, never me...so I dub thee UNFORGIVEN!

They dedicate their lives to running all of his,
he tries to please them all, this bitter man he is.
Throughout his life you see, he's batttled constantly.
This fight he cannot win a tired man they see ... no longer cares,
the old man then prepares to die regretfully...that old man there is me.

What I've felt, what I've known, never shine through in what I've shown.
Never be, never see won't see what might have been.

What I've felt, what I've known, neve shine through in what I've shown.
Never free, never me...so I dub thee UNFORGIVEN!

YOU LABEL ME. I LABEL YOU. AND I DUB THEE UNFORGIVEN!

—James Hetfield