Posted on 12/12/2005 7:49:30 AM PST by SmithL
Stanley Tookie Williams, the convicted murderer, has done an impressive amount of stuff since his incarceration in 1981. He has written an autobiography plus eight books for children about gangs and gang violence. He has spoken eloquently about the destruction that drugs and gangs can cause. He has rallied an impressive array of people to the cause of his appeal for clemency from his death sentence. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize any number of times.
His supporters say he has turned his life around. He has become a force for good. He merits special consideration because he has been so important in motivating children not to choose the life that he did. Those arguments, quite frankly, make me nuts.
I have no opinion about whether Tookie Williams has been rehabilitated. I'm not even sure that "rehabilitation" is a meaningful concept. A lot of people in prison are con artists; it's a useful skill on the street. The way to clemency was undoubtedly clear to a man of Williams' intelligence, and the fact that he chose that path means that either (a) he has had a change of heart or (b) that he hasn't. I dunno. I can't judge from afar, and neither can you.
I think subjective judgments about character are not really relevant in death penalty cases. To believe that they are relevant is to believe that uncharismatic, untalented, surly and/or mentally retarded death row prisoners are not worth saving, while a really cool guy is. Are we saying that it's OK to kill sneaky little weasel-faced people and not OK to kill handsome, intelligent, well-muscled people? It's fine to construct a hierarchy of character if one is, say, choosing a mate or a president. . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
There's a way around that -- do away with clemency altogether, considering that it is generally a crass exercise in politics to begin with.
The Tookster can do more good by accepting his sentence with remorse towards his victims than any number of childrens books he may write.
...Stanley Tookie Williams, the convicted murderer, has done an impressive amount of stuff since his incarceration in 1981. ...
His victims, on the other hand, remain dead, Jon, you scumbag.
Fry this turkey!
The senseless death penalty is the penalty innocent people pay due to the actions of criminals. They die at the whim of human debris like Tookie Williams. Eliminating a cancer like Williams is a must to maintain civility. If we had about 3 human cancer deletions a day, all publicly shown, a nessage would be sent and received and most cancers like Williams would be eliminated.
The death penalty does not deter and it does not cure.
----
Pure liberal crap. The only reason it does not deter, is because of a liberal judiciary that does not uphold it. Criminals know that if they kill MULTIPLE PEOPLE they will be in the Death Row Hilton for decades and never executed.
Liberal hogwash. Only from San Freakcisco.
Senseless death penalty? Only if you wait 25 years before they throw the switch.
This Piece of $@#$ murdered in cold blood a man over 25 years ago.. still he sits on Death Row... he has NEVER expressed remorse for his actions, and even if he did, it doesn't negate his crime. He forfieted his life when he did what he did... let alone the tens of thousands of others who have died thanks to the gangs that he helped create....
Fry him, and let God have mercy on his soul, because he finds none from me.
Bet this Jon Carroll fellow is a pantywaist pillow-biter. He sounds a bit enamored of big, strong Stanley.
The execution of Stanley is not "cold-blooded." His murders, however were in cold blood. Inject the racist, murdering scum, NOW!
I beg the differ with you. No executed murderer has ever gone on to be a repeat offender.
Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed - - "
The Manufacturer knows his product better than a thousand liberals do.
The DP is a wonderful deterrent - we should use it more often. Fry him now.
I frankly don't care if this guy has ever expressed remorse ....why should that change my mind on his punishment?
Personally I expect that his books were actually ghostwritten - all he provided was his name.
I usually don't drink in the morning but I may get up at midnight and have a toast for the toasted one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.