Execution

First let me say I am a supporter of capital punishment. Many of my fellow liberals are not, but I think there are many crimes that deserve such a fate. The execution this morning of Stanley "Tookie" Williams has caused uproar from both sides of the fence. He maintained his innocence until death, but the reality is he was the founder of the Crips, a lethal street gang that has killed many. Even IF he did not kill the 4 people he was convicted of murdering, one can say with almost certainty he has taken the life of at least one person in his gang years. Do I think he redeemed himself? Yes and no. He had done wonderful things to promote peace and denounce gangs during the final years of his life, but he also supported murderers like Mumia Abu Jamal, and the message of hate and racism they spread.
Do I think Tookie should have been executed? No. The only reason I feel he should have been granted clemency is the message his execution sends. He tried to turn his horrible crimes and the violence he started into a message of peace. Killing him shows young people who are headed to that decision, whether they join the gang or do something better for themselves, that no matter how hard you try to redeem yourself, the "man" will get you. These young people already distrust authority, and it's easy for gang members to plant the seed in their mind when they see how the authorities handled this case. Why bother obeying the law when you think it won't get you anywhere anyway? I'm not saying the mentality is correct, just that it's real.
Now, back to Mumia Abu Jamal, he's a Black Panther, and has been convicted of murdering Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner. I think they should fry his ass from here until next week, not because killing a police officer is worse than killing 4 civilians, but because he has made no apologies for any of his actions, and continues to spew forth hate and racism from Death Row. (He is now serving life in prison, apparently a judge overturned his death sentence conviction). That's where I stand, in case you were wondering.