03 July 2006

Execution and America's culture of death

Yesterday, 02 July 2006, was the 30th anniversary of Gregg v. Georgia, in which the Supreme Court essentially reinstated the death penalty in this country.

Most of the western world has abolished the death penalty. Not us, however. In fact, the United States, China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia currently account for over 80% of the executions recorded by Amnesty International.

Great company, huh?

I've written in the past about why the U.S. should join the rest of the civilized world and abolish the barbaric practice of execution. And I've met enough exonerated death row prisoners to know that we cannot risk executing an innocent person.

All these things considered, how can our state and federal governments still propagate this practice?

I'm not talking about freeing death row inmates. I'm talking about life in prison with no parole.

Why do we instead insist on killing people to show that killing people is wrong?

As Gandhi so wisely said, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."

To read an Amnesty International statement for the 30th anniversary of Gregg v. Georgia, and for links to more info on why we must abolish the death penalty, click here.

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