Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas Executes Man With IQ of 61; State Cites Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” To Justify Killing (DN!)
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/8/8/texas_executes_man_with_iq_ofLast night, Texas executed 54-year-old Marvin Wilson, despite evidence that he was mentally disabled and reportedly sucked his thumb into adulthood. Wilsons lawyers had argued that an IQ test on which Wilson scored 61 nine points below the standard for competency should have saved him from execution under a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling barring execution of the intellectually disabled. Wilson is the second prisoner in Texas to be executed by a new lethal injection method involving a single drug. We speak with Democracy Now! producer Renée Feltz, who has long reported on the death penalty, especially in Texas, where she has covered the states ongoing execution of developmentally disabled prisoners. Feltz reads from a statement by the son of legendary author John Steinbeck condemning Texas for using Steinbecks fictional character, Lennie Small, from "Of Mice and Men," as a "benchmark to identify whether defendants with intellectual disability should live or die."
"On behalf of the family of John Steinbeck, I am deeply troubled by todays scheduled execution of Marvin Wilson," Thomas Steinbeck wrote. "The character of Lennie was never intended to be used to diagnose a medical condition like intellectual disability. I find the whole premise to be insulting, outrageous, ridiculous, and profoundly tragic. I am certain that if my father, John Steinbeck, were here, he would be deeply angry and ashamed to see his work used in this way." [Transcript to come. Check back soon.]
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/8/8/texas_executes_man_with_iq_of
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
13 replies, 2125 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (12)
ReplyReply to this post
13 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Texas Executes Man With IQ of 61; State Cites Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” To Justify Killing (DN!) (Original Post)
G_j
Aug 2012
OP
Not just referencing...they based their entire 'standard' on the character of
msanthrope
Aug 2012
#5
I don't know what's more shocking... the death or the fact that Texas reads. nt
Comrade_McKenzie
Aug 2012
#2
And most of them are proud that their state executes far more people than any other state.
Egalitarian Thug
Aug 2012
#3
spanone
(135,791 posts)1. so, they're referencing fiction to justify putting a man to death....
God help them.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)5. Not just referencing...they based their entire 'standard' on the character of
Lennie Small.
It's mind-bogglingly disgusting....
Comrade_McKenzie
(2,526 posts)2. I don't know what's more shocking... the death or the fact that Texas reads. nt
n2doc
(47,953 posts)6. They might have just watched a film version n/t
Egalitarian Thug
(12,448 posts)3. And most of them are proud that their state executes far more people than any other state.
More than the next 5 of the most bloodthirsty states since 1976. 38% of the overall U.S. total. Remove the rest of the confederacy (and Floriduh) from the equation and Texas has killed two and a half times the rest of the nation combined.
How very Christian of them.
K&R
Edit: link to the numbers.
G_j
(40,366 posts)4. I would be interested to see TX stats
compared to whole countries.
patrice
(47,992 posts)7. Every last thing that went wrong, each and every harm, ALL that is bad is made into the WORST
damages possible by capital punishment.
true..
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)11. So true. It is a barbaric practice.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)8. Oh, I get it. Texas killed him for his own good.
As I recall, George shot Lennie to spare him from the almost certain lynching or execution awaiting him. What was Texas sparing Marvin Wilson from?
k
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)12. So much in this country right now
just calls for weeping.
G_j
(40,366 posts)13. certainly the call of our "better angels"
is mostly being lost amid the noise of fear and hatred.