The case that occurred this week in Georgia blemishes our image as a shining beacon to the world, our validity as a "developed" nation, our capacity to learn, grow and to become fully human. It goes without saying that this man, who was put to death was an accused "black, cop killer" but seven of nine eyewitnesses recanted their testimony which had been the most compelling evidence in the trial that led to his conviction. Some other person took responsibility for the killing, actually confessed, we all know that two people can see the same exact event with different eyes, but for seven of nine people to agree that this was not what they saw is pretty stark information to ignore. In addition, there were over one million signatures on petitions to grant clemency because the system had gotten it wrong. If I believed in God, this would be the straw that would break the back of my faith. The people of the great state of Georgia have been sold out by their leaders and the evil demon of hatred has tainted their leaders' very souls. There is no justice in killing, especially in the hopes of being a deterrent to crime.
In Merry Old England, when the punishment for pickpocketing was hanging, the most likely place to have your purse lifted (yes, yes, I know, back then, their were no wallets, everyone carried a purse.) was at the hangings! The juggernaut of hate that drives our society to do these vile and reprehensible things to others needs to be understood as an out-dated agent of misunderstanding based on lies and deceit. Although it is not the cheapest, best or most effective way to handle accused or actual murderers, we still get told that this killing will somehow "give closure" to those who have lost a loved one. That would be a shallow sort of love, if the loss of the loved one could be ameliorated by revenge. The only real assurance we have, when we kill to teach that killing is wrong, is multiplying the pain by a factor of two. The families and friends of the deceased are sure to feel the loss just as fully as the family and friends of the victim. Perhaps, in an odd way, they might feel it more acutely. The victim can always believe that it was all just the result of a senseless act, perhaps motivated by desperation or passion. The victims of the state all die by the hand of slow and supposedly well-reasoned and calculated horrors meted out with cold and unfeeling precision. It makes the crime committed by the state, in some ways, far more heinous. The only people who can ever feel vindicated are the people participating in the charade we call justice. It is a travesty. If there is adequate physical evidence to convict without a doubt, perhaps relegating the perpetrator of heinous acts to life in prison would be a true deterrent, perhaps not, but at least the punishment would not subject the state to committing crimes against humanity that the punishment is supposed to stop..
Especially in this case, the killing of someone when overwhelming doubt about their guilt exists degrades us all. Death to the state (any state) that believes killing is ever permissible in cases that are called into question by evidence. It is time to put an end to state sponsored terror perpetrated by our own "officials". Let this post explain, if I am ever murdered, please do not kill the person who kills me, I would like them to live with the idea of what they did to me for as long as possible. Whether or not they feel justified, they need to have the time to reflect on their actions and I certainly don't want them to have evil perpetrated on them by the state in my name. Similarly, our far flung warfare needs to stop because I'm tired of my nation killing in my name.
In Merry Old England, when the punishment for pickpocketing was hanging, the most likely place to have your purse lifted (yes, yes, I know, back then, their were no wallets, everyone carried a purse.) was at the hangings! The juggernaut of hate that drives our society to do these vile and reprehensible things to others needs to be understood as an out-dated agent of misunderstanding based on lies and deceit. Although it is not the cheapest, best or most effective way to handle accused or actual murderers, we still get told that this killing will somehow "give closure" to those who have lost a loved one. That would be a shallow sort of love, if the loss of the loved one could be ameliorated by revenge. The only real assurance we have, when we kill to teach that killing is wrong, is multiplying the pain by a factor of two. The families and friends of the deceased are sure to feel the loss just as fully as the family and friends of the victim. Perhaps, in an odd way, they might feel it more acutely. The victim can always believe that it was all just the result of a senseless act, perhaps motivated by desperation or passion. The victims of the state all die by the hand of slow and supposedly well-reasoned and calculated horrors meted out with cold and unfeeling precision. It makes the crime committed by the state, in some ways, far more heinous. The only people who can ever feel vindicated are the people participating in the charade we call justice. It is a travesty. If there is adequate physical evidence to convict without a doubt, perhaps relegating the perpetrator of heinous acts to life in prison would be a true deterrent, perhaps not, but at least the punishment would not subject the state to committing crimes against humanity that the punishment is supposed to stop..
Especially in this case, the killing of someone when overwhelming doubt about their guilt exists degrades us all. Death to the state (any state) that believes killing is ever permissible in cases that are called into question by evidence. It is time to put an end to state sponsored terror perpetrated by our own "officials". Let this post explain, if I am ever murdered, please do not kill the person who kills me, I would like them to live with the idea of what they did to me for as long as possible. Whether or not they feel justified, they need to have the time to reflect on their actions and I certainly don't want them to have evil perpetrated on them by the state in my name. Similarly, our far flung warfare needs to stop because I'm tired of my nation killing in my name.
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