CoCC sez...

[MScoleman at aol.com]

I confess that I am only opposed to capital punishment because it is too
expensive. It is simply less expensive to keep someone in jail for life than
it is to put them to death.  And no I don't think the death penalty has a
deterrent effect.  And yes I am sure that many of those on death row are there
because of some form of institutional racism (although in New York State in
particular, the majority of death row inmates are white males).  HOWEVER, some
people commit such grievous offences they should be put to death.  Of course I
also feel the same way about corporate offenders -- those companies which
cause the death of workers or people in a community should also be put to
death.  While I think as a society that we need to combat the social
structures which create racist and sexist patterns, I also think that
individuals should take responsibilities for their own actions.  To not
require responsibility on the part of the individual is to demean the
individual, to say s/he is incapable of responsibility.  To not put someone to
death of taking actions which society finds abhorrent means that we admire
those people who do take responsibilty of their lives less.  What about all
the white men who grew up in Texas who DON'T engage in racist practicies, who
DON'T lynch blacks, etc.?  Aren't we saying less about them?  maggie coleman
mscoleman at aol.com