L.A. Officers Urge 'No Mercy' for Tookie Williams

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 11/17/2005 | Henry Weinstein

[antiRepublicrat]

That is one perspective, and allot of people see it that way. My persective is different;

Normally I see that way, too. But this guy has done incredible work. Who knows how many lives, even cops' lives, he's saved due to his peace efforts. That I think qualifies for an exception to the rule.

Well, would qualify IMHO if he owned up to his crime.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

"Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed." Genesis 9:6 ASV

End of story, in my book. If the Governor grants clemency to this schmuck, his future in politics is history.

[AnAmericanMother]

The problem with judging a prisoner's true repentance is that he is helpless and under total control while expressing said "true repentance."

I wish I had a dollar for every "jailhouse conversion". The problem is that it is largely artificially induced by their current helplessness.

Once they get out from under control (or if they don't get what they're angling for), they go back to their old bad ways with distressing frequency.

[commonasdirt]

I heard on the news that Arnold IS goig to consider clemency. Why doesn't he just spit in the victims families faces while he is at it?

[BenLurkin]

The people of California will never be safe if this execution does not go forward.

Clemency would signal a green light to every sadistic urban barbarian out to kill for a thrill.

[Revolting cat!]

Free Charles Manson.

He wasn't even there.

[BooksForTheRight.com]

Fry Tookie and Mumia too!
Oh, I forgot! They have protection since birth.

[Chinito]

I wish I had a dollar for every "jailhouse conversion". The problem is that it is largely artificially induced by their current helplessness.

Amen, Mom. Some of these Bible "Thumpers" (a name I apply to myself) seem to forget seem to forget that Dimas (so-called "good thief") had his own jailhouse conversion and was forgiven and saved by the Big Man Himself. But Dimas still had to "render unto Ceasar" the punishment given him.

[AnAmericanMother]

Exactly. The "good thief" was very frank, too, he wasn't trying to get out from under punishment. He rebuked the other who was mocking Christ - "We deserve what we are getting, but he - he has done nothing wrong," and turning to Christ, "Remember me when you come to your kingdom."

BTW, I think his name is traditionally spelled "Dismas" and means "sunset" - but his name (and the name of the "bad thief", Gesmas) don't appear until well along in the 12th century.

An interesting medieval legend that had wide currency was that on the Flight into Egypt, Mary and Joseph were held up by a couple of thieves - Dismas and Gesmas. Dismas bribed Gesmas not to harm the Holy Family, and the baby Christ then prophesized that they would be crucified along with him in Jerusalem.