So Ahnold is still trying to decide whether to grant clemancy to Tookie Williams or not. Everyone has reasons for wanting to stop the execution: he's a good role model now; there's a danger of L.A. breaking out in riots if Tookie gets executed; etc. etc.
Me, I'm a little skeptical of the whole "Save Tookie!" phenomenon, just as when I read about people fawning over Mumia, I roll my eyes (by the way, he's apparently just got a bit of good news from the Third Circuit.)
People tend to identify with the individual case, I suppose. Environmental groups have more success when they turn the spotlight on the fate of some cute fuzzy animals, and death-row opponents sometimes seem to pick a particularly well-spoken, presentable person on death row to rally around. But what about the unlovely insects who are just as in danger of extinction, and what about the thousands (thousands?!) of others waiting for their sentences to be carried out?
Anyway, I hate that this case
hinges on whether Williams has sufficiently repented and redeemed himself
or not. How about, we just shouldn't be in the business of executing
people, period? Capital punishment isn't making us safer, it's just
another factor destroying our moral fabric (much more so then the
"war on Christmas.")
With no death penalty, life-or-death decisions don't have to be made via popularity contest. Love Tookie or hate him, it doesn't matter. He's in prison and he's not getting out. End of story.
Admit it. Don't you get a twinge of satisfaction when you hear Charles Manson has been turned down for parole for the umpteenth time? You know that has got to suck. And so it should.
But in any case, it seems fewer people are being sentenced to death these days. Maybe someday we'll collectively come to our senses and get rid of the stupid death penalty for once and all.
