Innocence lost...

Ok, more on how the death penalty should be abolished.

We convict innocent people... and not infrequently. Based on new DNA evidence, two men in Virginia were just exonerated of crimes that they had already served time for. Three more men were exonerated earlier based on DNA evidence as well.

You don't say.

Illinois, in 2000, suspended its use of the death penalty, after DNA evidence proved that THIRTEEN death row inmates were INNOCENT. The Governor talks about his decision below:

GOVERNOR GEORGE RYAN, Illinois: "We don't want to kill innocent people and we almost did in Illinois, and that's what brought me where I am today, that we had to put a stop to it, because we were this close to killing innocent people, not once, not twice, but 13 times in Illinois. Anthony Porter was two days away, ordered his last meal, fitted for his suit and his coffin, and two days away from execution, we almost executed him. It would have horrendous had we done that."

The State postponed all further executions in order to investigate why more executions had been overturned than carried out since the death penalty was reinstated in 1977.

However, don't get it twisted. Governor Ryan still believes in the death penalty... he just wants to make sure that they are killing the right guys... Which, I think at this point, we have clearly proven that they are not competent and capable of doing.

I am not saying that the death penalty should be abolished just because there are innocent people being punished. I am saying that the death penalty is cruel and unsual punishment. Death does not bring back dead loved ones. It changes nothing, solves nothing. The US is the only Western industrialized nation where executions still take place. Furthermore, it is the only nation that combines frequent executions with a "highly developed legal system characterized by respect for individual rights." We join the ranks of Middle Eastern states (you know, the ones we are trying to bring democracy to...) in States that continue the use and support of capital punishment... interesting. I knew that Bush, Saddam and Hitler had something in common...

An interesting blog to check out that raises interesting questions and parallels:

Stanley "Tookie" Williams... R.I.P.

This man was a co-founder of the Crips gang, accused of 4 murders in 1979.

Williams never pleaded guilty and maintained his innocence.

Williams, recognizing his own sacrifices, became the author of childrens books, discouraging young people from getting involved in gang life.

Williams was nominated 5 times for Nobel Peace Prizes or Nobel Prizes in literature.

Williams was sentenced to death in 1981. Because of appeals and other reasons, this man was not scheduled to be executed until Dec 13, 2005. It seems to me that if we have a criminal justice system that takes over 2 decades to assess whether or not someone has recieved a fair trial, and whether or all of the evidence has been sufficiently weighed, then we do not have any business KILLING people who allegedly committed crimes. Take the example of Illinois, who decided, after DNA evidence overturned the cases of 12 or 13 Death Row inmates, that they would no longer sentence convicted felons to death... interesting.

Williams had changed his life as much as one possibly could, inside of prison walls.

The Governor of CA said that redemption could not be had without remorse, and that he essentially could not grant clemency to someone who had not apologized for the atrocious murders. Ironically, IF Williams did not commit the murders, his refusal to confess to a crime that he did not commit may have caused him his life. You can't not apologize for something that you did not do.

Please read about Williams below. May he rest in peace.
http://tookie.com/tookie_fact_sheet_10.18.05.pdf

Love... makes no sense

"Pick me. Choose me. Love me." - Meredith, Grey's Anatomy

You know, a lot of people have criticized this line in the show, saying that the character seemed too desperate, but to me, it was nothing more than the display of vulnerability that love causes. Anyone who has ever loved someone else has felt that way... most of us just don't have the courage to say it.

Ok, so in the most recent episode of Grey's Anatomy, The Dr. Sheppard's are having a rough go of it. Addison is getting stoked for the holidays, while Derek seems to be some place, really any place else. As the show concludes, Addison confronts Derek, asking what was wrong because Christmas had always been their favorite holiday. Derek says (more or less): "Christmas is about spending time with people that you love. I am not saying this to hurt you, or because I don't want our relationship to work. Meredith was not a fling, she was not revenge, I fell in love with her, and just because I decided to stay with you doesn't make that go away."

DAAAAAAAAAAANG! Did you really just say that? Wow. So this led back to an earlier conversation...

Would you be more upset if your significant other: (a) cheated on you physically, or (b) fell in love with someone else?

I said (b)
My boyfriend said (a)
My roommate said (b)

What do you say?