Tookie Williams is the wrong "poster boy" for DP activism.

[Ron Green]

Although his high profile has come from his notoriety and his considerable work with and for young people, it seems that he's maintained a prison gangster's "front" of not copping to his crimes and asking for true forgiveness. In this way, how can his case ever have the moral weight of that of Karla Tucker, or of some lesser-known convict about whose actions and crimes there is serious doubt?

[Duer 157099]

1. I see where you're coming from

and after I got a glimpse of him the other day on the news (somehow hadn't seen him until then), it was frightening to think of him as a poster boy for anyone except perhaps "Oz" or something similar.

However... for those who are opposed to the DP completely, perhaps he is a fitting figure, because he personifies the worst type of inmate, at least visually (did you see those biceps?!?) and it makes the point that the death penalty is NEVER appropriate (given that this is their position, which I don't know).

[Ron Green]

2. I also agree with your point that

if we are truly against the DP, we should spare even an unrepentant murderer like this guy. The problem for me is how it will play with the masses: They see only that his notoriety has spared him, while many others without a public forum will die. And somehow, that's what our society has become: a place where you can parlay your 15 of fame into riches, or maybe even cheat the hangman.

[BIG Sean]

3. Very good point

Hi,

I agree. Sorry, I can not get excited about saving a thug gang banger.

[prolesunited]

5. Why do people insist

that DP opponents want to "save" a thug gang banger? He is NOT the poster child of anti-DP advocates, it's just because it's in the news right now.

You'll find that it makes NO difference if he's not more sympathetic like a woman crying for forgiveness or that he's a scary-looking black man with big biceps, it's what continuing to carry out the DP says about us as a society in light of the evidence that it's implementation is racially biased and does not work as a deterrent.

I am not PROUD of the fact that we keep company with China, Iran and Vietnam in carrying out the most executions worldwide when most of are allies have abolished it.

[Loonman]

4. Excellent point

:applause: