The execution of Stanley Tookie Williams should be regarded as nothing less than a tragedy. America has once again proven that it prefers revenge to redemption. Regardless of his crimes (Which he denied right to the moment of his execution.), the man became a role model of what a citizen should be.
Stanley was an author, an activist, and a man trying to atone for his past. His regret for the part that he played in the formation of the Crips was always at the forefront. This was a changed man. This was a man who wanted to make a difference.
For his efforts, he was nominated on 6 different occasions for a Nobel Prize. How many death row inmates have been nominated once, let alone 6 times?
Schwarzenegger had a golden opportunity to show the world that criminals can be rehabilitated, and that a man can rise above his misdeeds. Instead he dropped it like a hot potato. For a former action movie hero, he sure demonstrated a lack of spine. How very sad.
Hopefully his death was not in vain.
4 comments:
Good for Stan. His "redemption" should be heralded (although overblown - it wasn't 6 - it was 4 and none truly earned - come on?? peace prizes??). However, never lose sight of his crimes. It could have been your loved ones that either got murdered or got caught up in his glorified world. I will never condone the death penalty. It is wrong. This man should haved lived the rest of his life in prison. But don't listen to some quasie-celebrities trying to skew the very clear facts and make their names on him. They are as dirty as the people that put him to death - IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. amen.
D.
Actually the real number is 5. He was nominated for the peace prize 4 times, but nominated for the Nobel literature prize once.
The first 4 were done by a Swiss member of Parliament. I'm pretty sure that he wasn't "as dirty as the people who put him to death."
Sure - be petty, but you picked 6. And we all know for certain that politians are never dirty?!
A tragedy? Really? Tragedy. Hmmmm. Pretty strong words for a wordsmith such as you.
So I guess that he said sorry (or did he? - but gosh, he wrote a childrens book) means that you'd welcome him into your home or more-so into one of your beloved peoples homes? Do you think the families of his victims are ok? I doubt it. There are many people on death row that are probably innocent (statiscally speaking - don't ask me for numbers - I know how you are). He was not an innocent bystander. He did what he was convicted of. I really could give a flying fuck what Jamie Foxx, AKA Mr. Charles has to say. Dallying with Oscar doesn't give you an elevated IQ or a grip on reality. It just gives you TV time.
I sincerely hope that Stan had real regret for his crimes. It is brutal that the state murdered him. But he is not a hero and should never be reveered for his questionable contibutions. If they were real and sincere, then great, but would never make up for what he did. Consequences are a bitch and I should know.
D.
It’s unfortunate that we live with the belief that people do not change. We are told as children that “you can’t teach an old dog a new trick, or a tiger never changes its stripes…” We are told to believe that once you are a criminal, you are always a criminal. Politicians desperately try to reinforce the notion that rehabilitation is a myth. The tendency is to blame the criminal, and not the failed system. This is a fallacy. People are being rehabilitated. History is replete with stories of redemption.
Have we gotten so bitter as to believe that criminals are incapable of change, or personal development? We accept it when we see growth in others, so why aren’t we willing to tinker with the notion when it comes to prisoners? (Let’s face it, when you’ve reached rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up.)
I’m not the same person I was 20 years ago. I’ve changed. What I believe in has changed. It’s not a stretch to believe that Stanley Williams changed too. 25 years in jail is a long time to stew over one’s sins. It would make sense to me that given the set of circumstances; he would have not wanted to waste anymore of his life.
as for my initial reporting of 6 nominations... I got my info from CNN...
My Bad.
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