I just heard that Gov. Schwarzenegger has denied clemency to death row's Stanley "Tookie" Williams. He will be executed during the dark of night tonight.
To begin, I am 100% opposed to the death penalty. This is mostly because of faith. I think it's barbaric. I think we have no right to take another person's life. I think its unjust, arbitrarily enforced, and blatantly racist. Stanley should live. As should have the 1,000 men, women *and* children who went before him. Where he should live--in freedom or permanent confinement--is not an issue I can debate.
But I have a HUGE problem with the "Save Tookie" movement that has sprouted here in California recently. They say that the co-founder of the Crips street gang and convicter murderer of four (murders which he denies to this day) because of the impact he has had since conviction.
In prison he's changed. I'll acknowledge that. He's become a prolific author of children's books decrying gang violence. Ok. But what about your gang days, when you rained violence down on the streets of Los Angeles? That's is what that average Californian wants to know. I think there is no value in the author-should-be-saved argument.
They say he's been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize because of the anti-gang work he'd done post-conviction. A Nobel Prize means nothing unless you actually win one. There is no formal recognition for "nominees." Any one can be nominated--very very few would ever be considered. It's not the Oscars. I think there is no value in the Nobel-Laureates-CouldaBeens-should-be-saved argument.
I think the reason he should live is because the state has or at least should have no right, no authority, and no power to kill. I think they should have used this high-profile opportunity to stake a claim to the moral authority of the Abolition movement. But they wasted it in typical Hollywood style.
Schwarzie is a Catholic. We go to the same church and have the same priest. For the past 4 weeks, the parish has been distributing information on the Church's official position on the death penalty--it is unarguably opposed! Instead of sending Snoop Dog to appeal to the Governor, why not send the American Conference of Catholic Bishops? Why not send other church and religious leaders? Why not make the moral argument against ALL executions, not just this one?
My final though as a committed liberal. The Left better seek therapy over it's fear of faith. Or it will kill us all. Maybe literally.
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2 comments:
The Catholic church tried to deny communion to John Kerry based on his pro-choice stance. No doubt they will now deny communion to Schwarzenegger.
Right?
Anyone?
Kerry was not denied communion ever. Two Bishops--acting on their own within their power--said they would if he tried to received. It never actually happened.
The Church itself has struggled with the right to the sacraments. While it sets broad guildelines on social teaching, enforcement is trusted to the Bishops typically. This has led to controversy.
As Schwarzie's attends a progressive, welcoming parish that provides the Eucharist to all Catholics that seek it--including gays, divorced people, remarried people--I don't forsee them drawing a line in the sand on this one.
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