- Need to talk to Obama. He says he supports death penalty for crimes for which the community needs to express their “full outrage.” #
- But why is it that when people of color are killed it’s acceptable, hardly any outrage, d.p. seldom pursued? “Outrage” is not a valid basis. #
- Eight out of ten on death row are there for killing whites, even though people of color are 50% of all homicides. #
Sister Helen Prejean
When I saw the dreadful news of the shooting incident in the Unitarian Church in Knoxville yesterday on the BBC, I prayed for those affected, including the 2 people killed by the gunman. I even prayed for the killer himself.
I hope that the death penalty will not be sought for this man. His state-decreed death will not atone for the lives he took, nor will it ease the hate.
I’m a student at Lees-McRae College, where you spoke last month. Unfortunately, I missed the convocation, as I am a single mother with a full-time job, as well. However, I have always been vehemently against the death penalty and saw Dead Man Walking when it came out so many years ago. I applaud your work, your efforts and your accomplishments. I happen to be an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama and hope you DO have the opportunity to talk too him about his position on this issue. I think you can reach him with factors other than the constitution. He seems like a compassionate, ethical, spiritual, logical man whose emotions can be appealed to. And regardless of anything else, most people act on their emotions, when it comes down to it. I would give him the statistics, stating the number of innocent lives lost on death row. I would discuss the morality of the issue, including the old standard addage “two wrongs don’t make a right.” Talk to him about how it is not ANY human being’s place to decide who gets to live or die. There is NEVER any justice in the death of man by another man, regardless of the circumstances. If we hede the scripture, our greatest test is our ability to forgive, not to carry out punishment. And lastly, I would talk to him about the cost of the death penalty, versus the cost of prison and/or pyschological treatment and reform. I think he can be persuaded. He is a good man.
Final thought:
How can we teach society that murder is wrong, when we can legalize and justify it to suit our needs and emotions?