Actually Williams could save a lot of at-risk kids from gangs. Simply pointing to his 28 year old crimes isn't the point. Maybe he's totally guilty, but he's already been in prison (including 6.5 years of solitary) for 25 years, is a changed man and no one is suggesting to let him out.
Arnold used to go to prisons as a body-builder and try and turn lives around. But now he has disposed of perhaps one of the most credible spokesman for gangsta reform. That is, a man like them, the original G, a role model who can say with great authority "Don't do like I did, don't be like me". Like in that old TV show "Scared Straight", the Tookie Williams message could really turn lives around fast. Even tough-as-hell 14 years olds could be scared to death by someone like Tookie.
But people like you are cheering his death and calling for more executions. Let me ask you though, if Tookie were a Bush-supporter who wanted to preach rightwing christianity would you be hollering for his death? I think not. In fact I'm pretty sure if his skin was a different color you wouldn't be crying out for his death.
Some people really do deserve to be executed, but in this case a little Christian forgiveness might have been in order. After all, Christ forgave the killers on the cross next to him, so why can't the supposedly Christian Bushie rightwing?
Also, if you're going to condemn people like Williams, why give a pass to all the corrupt politicians and crooked CEO frinds of Bush who've ben responsible for stealing so many billions of dollars and doing so much damage to our country, environment and people? Can't have it both ways.
Murder is a terrible crime, but so is cheating in elections, lying to the people and congress to take us to war, bilking investors out of billions, polluting the air and water, etc.
Tough law and order and stiff penalties must also apply to everyone else, including rich white Republican men in power positions.
I don't envy Arnold tonight. I think he did this to please the far right and not have them rebel against him. Being in as many prison as Arnold has, I know he must have very mixed feelings about what he did. In fact, we all should. |
