"A society should be slightly more civilized than its sociopaths."

[owlmoose]

Excellent Jon Carroll article on the death penalty today.

I agree with him. On all of it, pretty much. My only point of disagreement is that I do think it's important that the Williams case is getting public attention, because anything that gets people talking seriously about the death penalty is a good thing in my view. The more times we can implant the idea that there are grave problems with this form of punishment, the better.

Comments

I

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

I just got a bulletin from the NYT that Ahnold has decided against mercy. G-d knows I despise Tookie Williams for the freakish little monster he is but the death penalty is an outrage in this century and in this world. We are barbarians if we continue this travesty.

I have also heard that the gangs - in general - are threatening to burn down LA the way they did after the Rodney King verdict. I am glad you are in the relatively civilized confines of San Francisco.

Take care of yourself.

Re: I

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I just got a bulletin from the NYT that Ahnold has decided against mercy.

Unfortunate, but not surprising. The gang threat doesn't shock me all that much either. I will be keep an eye on the news, for sure; the gangs do have a presence here, though not as much as down south. I was in Philly then, but I had friends who lived through the 1992 riots, both here and in LA, and it was definitely a scary time. Thanks for the thoughts.

I

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

Do keep your head down. I have hopes that someday this country will emerge from the middle ages and join the rest of the civilized world. We keep such bad company when we continue to practice our ritual state sacrifices. There is much in our nation which I find disgusting these days - as I am sure you do as well. Do take care.