The Anti-Death-Penalty Doc
A few days before the end of last year, whilst on vacation, I visited a small town in the north of the fairest Cape, South Africa. Large headlines proclaimed: "Famous Crips gangster put to death". In it I read the story of how Stanley "Tookie" Williams was put to death by the people of California. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declined his clemency. Tookie maintained his innocence right to his end. His last wish was to have his ashes strewn here in South Africa. He wanted to come home to his roots. Another "African" was coming home...
I sent an email to Governor Schwazenegger, asking him what really motivated his denial of Tookie's clemency, not the "official reply" his legal department compiled FOR him. Needless to say, I never got an answer; only an automated email reply that read: "Your mail will receive attention". It never did.
I then met Vernon on www.meetvernon.blogspot.com. Another "African" on Death Row. To this day, he also maintains his innocence. I sent him a long comment, supporting his drive towards clemency and expressing my joy regarding a stay having been granted. I know he will answer in due course and it will be published on his blog.
Americans, why are you murdering your people? Why do you throw them in little cage-like prison cells on Death Row, forgetting they are also human beings and deserve dignity? Why do you treat them like outcasts whilst their appeals are still pending? Shouldn't you maintain their dignity and human rights until all their appeals and legal remedies have been exhausted and right up to the moment when they pass out of this world, WRONGLY by YOUR hand? Why do you take away their human rights and treat them like animals?
South Africa abolished the Death Penalty more than 10 years ago, when it became a democracy. When our past President, Nelson Mandela was asked: "Why did you abolish the Death Penalty?", he plainly said: "It served no further purpose". Reform took its place.
It is time the world starts sitting up and take heed of the abomination of the Death Penalty. It is time that no coin is left unturned in finding ways to reform those on Death Row. And if reform has no effect, one doesn't have to kill them in a vengeful manner. One can remove them from society until the day of their passing. One would never know if reform would work until one tries. Execution has no place in a society that holds itself to have high moral values.
posted by Doc T @ 12:53 PM
23 Comments:
Dr T
I couldn't agree more, I am all for the act of Rehabilitation making people become acceptable too and accepting society. Those that cannot be rehabilitated are ill and need to do need be looked after in secure units. I am also for cold blooded murderers and child molesters being locked up without parole, some people are beyond help, we have them here, those without remorse, and those who cannot see the wrong they have committed. These are very dangerous people who need the help of secure units and medication and very high walls.
Unfortunately there are quite a few "People" out there that think death of inmates is the only answer? I cannot understand it, living in a country where I was 2 years old when the last person was state murdered, and the serious crime rate is very low, as we do not have guns and the evil that they bring, I feel very Blessed by God.
Doct I feel very impressed with the way you present your political and legal arguments. This is now the second time I have read through your blog, and what grows on me is that you have a real power with your words. The way you write is very convincing. And for me you have opened a new insight, that of the political aspect. I am against the death penalty from the psychological perspective, but I had never really thought through before about the power that politics can have, with the right willpower, to educate and effect change. I probably sound naiive saying this, but truly, the point you made in glenn's blog about public opinion polls on the death penalty buying politicians votes and their movie actor's behaviour is disturbing me. Can life be that cheap? Psychological insight is important, but I am beginning to believe that politics and political mechanisms are more important in educating a society. That people can vote for and support the "Texacutioner" is really sad. The recent history of South Africa as a political tool is very relevant, particularly as Africans in America are more likely to be executed than whites. I will try to weave this into my own arguments on Vernon's page but give me a hand because I am not very adept in political argument. But your arguments seem so relevant to me and I think your quote of Mr. Nelson Mandela is strong. The death penalty is not needed anymore. I like that !
Hi John! You are most welcome. The power of politics is stronger than any other force you can dream of! I should know, I was there! In politics, people stop at nothing to achieve power. It is ALL about power! Please use this in the blogs, I will support you all the way! Your psychological arguments are coming through strong!
Thanks doct. I will try and focus on power. Power comes up in psychodynamics too. I think Glenn has picked up on this too. Have you seen her new blog addition relating to social cutbacks in America to provide more money for warfare? I think Bush uses war as a political currency and execution as an entertainment. Film fantasy turned into gruesome reality.
Doct I won't be here tomorrow as I have to go upto the mountains tommorow, but I'll be back Thursday. I'll keep hoping for a reprieve for Morales.
Doct Do you remember Stitches 77, the one who attacked me and said I could not be a psychologist? I asked her again for her opinion on The British Medical Assoc finding on Meet Vernon's blog and she said she had not replied because I am "too stupid". She claims she is a medical professional.(?) She also attacked anna and I followed your suggestion and suggested, that with that quality of reply, it is not worth replying. There are some like Jim worth including and some who are not. I think I am going to follow your advice regarding stitches.
Hey John! Welcome back! How was the mountains? You are absolutely right. It doesn't help to argue with people when they get personal. You will remember one of the first lessons one learns in Psych..."whatever one projects to the world or to another individual, is a sign of one's own internal world". That's why I ignore it and continue to stick to the subject at hand. Glad to have you back, my friend! Good news on Morales, not so!!??
Thanks for that doct. I reflect back when I think the person is worth trying with. Jim, through all the "noise," is at least contributing something useful to work with, but stitches is just another "stab and run." Ah great ! Morales did escape by the skin of his teeth, did he? I lost track of the news for a bit. Maybe the execution machine is showing cracking at the seams at last. The popularity of the wretched thing is declining in the U.S. I understand. And I take my hat off to the doctors who walked out. Now there is an example of real "courage." To go against the killing machine and say "no." Picking up on your point about political "power," I believe courage of conscience is a theme that goes alongside too. It helps the cause a lot when notable people walk away from (state)killing, and make a political statement. The doctors walking out, was not just an ethics matter. It was a consciously made political statement.
What I mean is that those doctors knew what they were doing. I would not be at all surprised if they had planned it in advance as a political statement.
Hi John!
I agree with you! It takes courage to say NO! And that is born from deep convictions. I so want to agree with you, tongue in the cheek, that it was a "medical" setup...
Thanks for supporting my blog!
Maybe the same legal situation and remedy will happen again. I do hope so. Cracking the kill machine will be slow, but if this strategy becomes widespread, it may lead to a natural death of execution. But frustrating the process is certainly a good beginning.
Does anyone know anything about Vernon being denied a new trial? Undercoveranna has discovered something and she is asking if anyone has more information.
Ah. It could be that this info relates to a previous stage in the process. I don't think it would be current in view of the recent decision to hold a review in May of this year and if the May decision had been altered in any way I guess such news would have been splashed all over MSN news and I cannot find any such reference. Does anyone have any update?
But what I have seen today on MSN news is truly bizarre. An American scientist from their National Academy of Sciences has said that the American viza denial of the President of the Paris based International Council for Science, who is an internationally renowned Indian CHEMIST "..leaves a terrible impression of the United States.." Hahahaha!! Yes,well ! The Bush administration is so paranoic that they put a bullet hole in their own foot !! Just as they do by breaking human rights conventions by torturing their capital criminals to death with burning CHEMICALS. ...and they deny the viza of a peace CHEMIST ??!! oooh !! Peaceful application of chemistry is so bad isn't it !!! Naw. You gotta have butchery and warfare and killing. And Bush content with the Vice President shooting someone's face off too.... Got the impression the Bush crowd respect only violence ??Peace is nasty !! DENY IT QUICK !!!!!!!
Hi John!
Yes, in the demise of many attrocious systems, history has shown that it starts with someone frustrating it! Lets hope this is the first step in the USA!
I tried to look for news on Vernon but all I can find is that he has a stay, not a pardon or re-trial. I couldn't find anything in the court pages.
I think they will deny many scientists visas, as they are converging in droves on the USA from abolishionist countries, in anticipation of proving the "Bush cocktail" to be causing a painful death. We are also sending some over and I will be there in April to assist in the legal aspects with Amnesty International, starting in California, then Colorado, then Michigan (conference on Battered Woman Syndrome) and Ohio and then New York. Looking forward to it!!!
My eldest son is a Chemical Biology Science student at Varsity (doing Honors) and I had an interesting discussion with him on the use of sodium pentathol before the other two chemicals are used.
He reckons that, due to the anxious state of the "recipient" and due to the rapid heart-beat, the chemical, if not used continuously during the administration of the other two chemicals and due to the small amount used, could disperse quickly in the bloodstream. It can, however, not be used similtaneously, as it would cause clogging of the lines when it mixes.
He reckons that, by the time the muscle relaxant is used, the barbiturate has dispersed and the recipient would have started waking up but would not have been able to indicate this, as he had already been paralyzed. He reckons that asphyxiation would then start, with excruciating burning, due to the chemicals, but that nobody would see it..because the recipient is paralyzed...then the heart attack would be induced...
I have seen many deaths but this MAKES ME SICK!!!!
It's torture doct in its most disgusting form. The poor sod cannot even scream. The waking up of such recipients would no doubt account for the "adverse reaction" many are observed to suffer. Far from being unconscious, most probably die in agony. But Stitches 77 the "medical professional" (who I strongly suspect could well be none other than our "thrilled to volunteer" as an executioner; Expert RN) is happy with this torture. "Oooo I'm crying for them, thats what I think of the British Medical Association" she said in response to my question about the BMA's condemnation. I notice that a recent psychological study has found that executioners have a high level of "moral separation". They brutally kill without conscience. I would not like to be married to one of these people....Who knows what could happen later on !!
You can imagine a conversation in a supermarket, can't you "Oh what do you do for a living?" " I work in Moral Separation" "Oh that sounds interesting. Are you a priest?" "No, I kill people, mmm and my husband has just bought the wrong brand of cornflakes.... "
Hey doct what a terrific job working with Amnesty. That is wothwhile. My wife wants to do that in Spain.
Hey John!
I just LOVE the adage..."I work in Moral Seperation"!!! Good one!!
You know, when I finished Grade 12, I enrolled firstly as a policeman. Whe had to undergo 6 months basic training. I was so surprised when, during lectures in Criminology, our lecturer admitted that he was the executioner (the hangman). This guy was as cold as ice! He was only 42 but as grey-haired as a man of 60!! I remembered seeing him again later, when we prosecuted and judged death-eligibles. You would just see him come into the execution room, adjust the rope, pull the lever and leave. He had no emotions. These guys MUST be influenced by what they do! I don't think anyone can convince me that they lead normal lives!
As to RN...I wonder if she/he has killed before? The Television glamour of killing someone is not the real thing. There's no music, there's only the smell and the silence, broken by the death rattle in the victim's throat. The soldiers here will know what I am talking about...And the first time? Not nice...no eating for days...moral mental agony...yeah...I wanna see her pee her pants after she has pressed the plunger...that would be an experience...
John, good conversation in the supermarket!! Hahahaha!!!!! Sound like Bobbit's wife!!
Ditto on Amnesty Intl. If your wife want to join, I can facilitate that for her. Just let me know.
Have a great weekend, Guys!!!
Yes doct I fully agree with you and share your sentiments.What's the difference between a volunteer soldier and an executioner? I had no problem in defending myself against someone attacking me, and even then, much better to stop and detain than kill, but the cold bloodedness of a state-paid killer mechanically executing a guy tied up gives me the creeps.It's inhuman in my book. Soldiers, by comparison, have a mission, an objective, and if someone attacks and gets in the way there is an exchange of fire. Of course,that's remote killing. "I didn't kill the enemy, the bullet did" !! Hand to hand with a knife is the most revolting. Black humour is used by soldiers to desensitise the bloody remains left afterwards. Sickening if you have time to think. But the relief of still being alive yourself,afterwards, seems to counter that. The dead body could have killed us instead. The piece of dead meat on the ground was the "enemy." Dehumanised and desensitised. But it is sickening when you recall it. And it is a no-no to show revulsion at the time, in front of your mates. And some young soldiers do suffer internal conflicts,shock and become unhinged by the brutal realities of combat. But why be a soldier? Role-modelling mostly, I think. The recruitment films don't show the bloody arms and legs and bits and guts do they!! What a contrast with the films of Gov. of Texas (can't spell his name !!) The professionalism...being someone.. Brave... The best, Defending queen and... etc.etc. For me, I saw military intelligence service as saving innocent life by taking out or stopping the villains. That was for me,a "human" reason or justification for wanting to do it when I was young. But I would never have wanted to kill anyone in cold blood. That's murder isn't it ?!! I think most professional soldiers see nothing honourable at all in execution. For these reasons, I do see a big difference between volunteering for the services and "volunteering with a thrill" to pump lethal chemicals into a person tied to a guerney. "It's not sporting" said your friend. A person can say with some pride that they have been a soldier defending their country. It doesn't have the same ring to say they have cold bloodedly killed defenceless unarmed people with no wider "mission" than just to kill. It's not exactly defensive in role is it?!! Execution does not save lives in the long term. In that sense, moral separation for a soldier can be equal to their normal lives, because their end aim is to protect their community. An executioner needs high moral separation or they will see themselves, and be seen as, the same or worse than the people they are killing. They are not protecting anyone. They are just killing out of revenge. oof this post is a book Hahaha! Have a great weekend.
And I think you are right. I think if Expert RN saw an execution at her hand go wrong, instead of the guy just going to sleep, she would probably not be so "thrilled" the second time. At least I would like to think that she would not enjoy the sight of someone convulsing to death in agony through lack of oxygen...
Hi John!
Great post! Yeah, there is no honour in killing someone defenceless, both by a murderer or an executioner. Maybe, if the death penalty stays, they must either give the DA the syringe to plunge in full view of everybody, or let the family do it, in full view of the inmate's family. Why hide behind a screen? Let's see if they get closure then. And they can't use the excuse that they are moral and now live in an ethical society, blah, blah, blah...let them do their own dirty work and then see if they can live with it. I still say that by incarcerating a person for the rest of their natural life, is ENOUGH punishment and a worse punishment than execution.
Yes that's a good point Doct. Life imprisonment is punishment enough, and protects society. There is no need to kill anyone. And there is always the hope that someone in prison can learn to be productive in a limited way, with their violent excesses controlled, as long as facilities are given to inmates to contribute. I.e. to work in a controlled environment. I think they should do something useful not just sit there for the rest of their lives. I do not think it is safe, nor responsible, to let them out after some years except in very exceptional cases.
In looking at role-modeling, I cannot believe execution sets any kind of example except to feed more violence. But is execution a "feeder" or a reflection of an already violent society? If execution is to be stopped, gun control needs to be on the political agenda too. How is it that Americans can buy so many guns, so easily?? Power politics. Votes from the powerful Rifle Association and gun lobbies. With so many guns washing around uncontrolled, violence is inevitable. A gun is a piece of metal that explodes another piece of metal out at (someone).Nothing more. And you see kids obsessed with them like they had an ingot of gold in their hand. The American Gun. An idolic symbol of power. If guns were kept secure in shooting clubs and not at home, for instance, criminal access would become heavily restricted. A Spanish professor I know who travels to the USA and lectures in a university in San Diego, told me that he has walked down avenues and been shocked to see notices on peoples doors that say "every caller is answered with a gun" I mean with a mentality such as that, it's looking for trouble. Too many Americans love guns, not like a tool, but like an idol of power. All these violent American films feed the gun and violence ideology. And a juicy execution is icing on the cake. It's entertainment for them which is why the Americans in reality develop bizarre ways of killing people. The Chair, The Gas chamber Joder as they say in Spanish !! It's gruesome. Topped off with nice burning chemicals when the recipient is not sedated. Their whole violent culture needs cleaning up, not only execution. These methods are "humane." ??? No they are not !! They are entertainment. Torture entertainment, like their kill movies !! Too many Americans like violence. The death penalty "serves no further purpose" so what do they keep it for when life imprisonment is a cheaper alternative as English Blogger noted. Execution is not "shocking" in some of America because it is part of a violent culture. If they finish with execution AND control guns, they will have a far safer environment, somewhere approaching the European model. But it will take some brave politicians to..... Perhaps Human Rights organisations like Amnesty can push this point. The human right to live in a society where there are not gun collections in every home. If the whole culture can teach itself to downscale its obsession with violence, with good rolemodels and examples to follow, execution will no longer be the entertainment it is now,; it really will no longer be needed.
And to pick up on your your point of Television killing versus the real thing. I didn't adequately answer your point. What I tried to say was that I think that people who are cold and are executioners, are in a way, remote-killing. I think a soldier will recognise the difference between shooting a (terrorist) "target" at a distance - remote killing, and in with the knife, up and twist and if you can't go through the clothing, go through the eyes.Personal hand to hand fighting is personal, disgusting, shocking, can make you vomit afterwards. Because it is personal.And butchery. The guy you knew as a lecturer come executioner, came in and pulled a lever. And then left. He perhaps did not stay around to clean up the body he had just assasinated. In a way, Expert RN brought this out. She could not see the absurdity of the distinction she made when I challenged her on her reply that she was not thrilled to kill, but she would be thrilled to volunteer to "attach the lines !! that kill. These killers have high moral separation because they consider that something else does the killing and not them. That is what I meant by it's the bullet that kills, not the soldier,in remote killing. They switch off human emotion when they switch on the electricity. To sum it up, the state makes it "easy" for the executioner to kill. And I think that is a deliberate policy. The designers of execution methods build in the remote killing aspect. It would need an extremely cold and brutal individual to use an axe to cut someone's head off like in history. I think, as you suggest, that if the relatives were the executioners, there would be more abandoned executions, particularly if those relatives were made to use a personal method of killing. I think it could be a useful angle of attack to critisise the American Government for creating remote killing contraptions. I mean what are they trying to convey, that killing is o.k. if it is kept clinical? What are they doing to people to find and train them to do this "work"?
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