How do I feel about the execution of Tookie Williams? I have some misgivings about the right of the state to kill convicted criminals, but I also have misgivings about letting people live after they commit heinous acts.
Evidently, California was asked to provide clemency for Williams because, after being convicted of multiple murders, he’s seen the light. Of course, he still contends that he’s not guilty of the murders, so California is ACTUALLY being asked to provide clemency for someone who’s changed his life after crimes he didn’t commit.
As I told the official VM fiancee this morning, “If he was convicted of murders-during-the-course-of-a-single-robbery, I might have more leeway, because of the Tarantinoesque capacity for things going horribly wrong, but murders from different robberies in the span of a few weeks makes him much more reprehensible, in my eyes.”
Then there are Williams’ victims. This page contains links to photos of them. These are pretty graphic, so consider yourself warned. I took a look at four people who had their lives taken from them, and then asked myself if Tookie deserved “a second chance.”
In addition, the photos of the wacky hosts on the links page may make one hope for a sweeping expansion the Death Penalty.
I was gonna make a snarky aside about “not THOSE graphic idiots”, but figured I’d leave that for you.
Call me a bleeding heart patchouli-wearer if you like…
Maybe it’s because I live in a country which doesn’t have the death penalty, or maybe it’s because last year I saw Sr Helen (of Dead Man Walking Fame) speak eloquently on the topic. The whole concept freaks me out.
Australia recently went to extraordinary lengths to (unsuccessfully) save convicted drug smuggler and Australian citizen Van Nguyen from the gallows in Singapore. The public outcry was amazing. I gotta tell ya – it blows me away that the US still condemns a shitload of people to death every year.
Of course there’s the moral issue (ie, my belief that two wrongs don’t make a right, and the endemic power imbalances which means a millionaire will rarely end up on death row) and you can argue about that until the cows come home; but I also knowing how fallible the justice system is here. Since I wouldn’t trust this government to successfully organise a pissup in a brewery I just don’t know that I’d be comfortable putting that responsibility in their hands.
For the record, I’m 100 percent against the death penalty in any and all circumstances because it’s a crappy business for the state to be in. Even the business of trying to figure out under what circumstances clemency should be allowed makes me feel like I’m in the back seat of a car holding a .45.
I would, however, happily beat the crap out of those two idiots on the links page. Open hand. No bruising.
I’m totally on board with that…And while you’re handing out the bitch-slaps can you take care of Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly for me too?
Program, select, [channel to Fox News], lock out, save.
Fortunately I don’t have cable here … but when I was in the US I had this masochistic desire to check it out for myself.
Oh, and while you’re at it can you add Regis to the list.