Abolish the death penalty
We are writing to witness our opposition to the Death Penalty and, in particular, our revulsion at the recent execution of Troy Davis by Georgia officials who refused to grant a re-trial when new circumstances came to light that made his guilt extremely doubtful. Quaker Testimonies on peace and justice strongly oppose the death penalty and all other cruel, degrading and irrevocable acts of vengeance by the State.
Criminologists and others who have seriously studied crime and criminal justice systems agree that among the primary purposes of a criminal justice system are: (i) the restoration of victims, (ii) the rehabilitation of wrong-doers, and, (iii) the deterrence of future crimes. It has been conclusively found that the death penalty contributes to none of these purposes.
Many men and women have been executed—but later proved to have been wrongly convicted. Consequently, the death penalty has been abolished by a number of states and by most democratic nations, including all the nations of Europe. Troy Davis’ execution is only one of many that have taken the lives of clearly (or apparently) wrongly convicted men and women. But, even if Troy had been guilty and had been convicted in a fair trial, that would not have justified his death or the death penalty. It would, to the contrary, have provided a model and justification for the killing of individuals by other individuals.
We urge our fellow Lexingtonians and Kentuckians to join us in supporting abolition of the death penalty in Kentucky and nationally.
Tom Marco and Claire Carpenter, Co-Clerks
Lexington Friends (Quaker) Meeting
Gilo Black Stem
That sounds like a wonderful adventure (“Heirloom vegetable punk’d,” October 26). I am curious: did you save and dry the Gillo Black Stem [eggplant] for decoration?
Jerena, Smirking Chimp Blog
Author responds:
No, I passed on the drying. I talked to a few local florists to see if they were interested, but no one seemed to even know what to do with them. I think they’re only used extensively in Asian flower arrangements.
BOB McKinley
Comment-less
I feel that this story (“Reckoning with feminicide,” October 12) begs for comment, but for the life of me I can’t think of anything I could say that would make an adequate or meaningful comment on these horrors. But it is a good thing to get this story out, and I hope that it will help to spur the necessary action to catch the perpetrators, and assure that this will not happen to any more of these young women.
AntiSpin, Smirking Chimp Blog
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