Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Troy Davis, The Death Penalty Reconsidered…Without a Doubt

 In response to the pending Troy Davis execution (7pm tonight – Jackson, Georgia) someone asked me, “How do you feel about the death penalty?” Damn…another question that reminds me that I am getting old. As I move closer and closer to my porch, rocking chair, tobacco pipe, never-ending glass of Fire Fly Tea…with Jesse at my feet and my boys taking care of me - I am becoming a little less abrasive and more compassionate. 

The Death Penalty…???
 Stephen Hayes
If a deranged lunatic savagely killed my mother, sisters, brother, children or baby mommas, I am certain without any doubt would be the aggressor in issuing the death penalty. I would do the killing. No questions asked. No taxpayer-paid board making the decision to terminate life or not. Of course, the guilt of the fool would have to be SOLID. No questionable areas. Unlike the lingering doubt that was not successfully factored into Georgia’s Board of Pardons and Parole decision to uphold the execution Mr. Troy Davis. The board,


http://www.seattlepi.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=1610587&width=628&height=471

My equally ferocious killing of the maniac stems from my Hebrew Bible embrace…well, parts of it. It is also reflective of my ability to be full of rage. As I read and participated in several blogs and Facebook discussion about what the State of Georgia plans to do on September 21, 2011 at 7PM, I am no longer consumed with the fury I felt a few days ago when I began my ‘highlighting’ of the Troy Davis case. Tuesday morning when I received word that he was denied clemency, I initially did not respond – but then I checked my phone. That question was in my Inbox: 

“How do you feel about the death penalty?”
 
I FEEL the death penalty could serve a good purpose if the world’s judicial systems were created to issue impartiality. I also FEEL I would be okay with a ‘live by the sword die by the sword’ punishment if the system was not diseased with favoritism. Let’s face it…Caucasians have benefited from an unjust process. Let’s face it…darker people of the world have been innocent victims of the inhumaneness of White Supremacy…a ruthlessly attained sovereignty that has a foundation of infinite inequality. Let’s face it…money and dynamic attorneys have and will continue to get the worst of the worst of hominoids off...and yes those people are and will be of any race. Money rules! But, it does mysteriously appear that when a black man legally earns/acquires significant wealth he is ‘scrutinized’ with a vigorous zeal to destroy. Troy may not have had enough money? Classism is the other noticeable elephant in the room.

Troy Davis will be lynched (I learned yesterday that the word lynch was not exclusively used to identify or define a hanging) also in part because the slain officer’s family believes that they will be at peace with a
carried-out death sentence. A black man has to die. The blood thirsty Dixie mob made its way into the 21st century.

I am convinced ‘death issued’ by flaw-plagued and guilt-riddled humans will not and cannot bring peace. Even if I were to kill someone for brutalizing my family I know without a doubt that I would not be at Peace. 

Sadly and fortunately, peace will be enforced by man and granted divinely to Troy Davis come 7:15pm Wednesday, September 21, 2011. He -in all of this- Troy is the only mortal gaining what all of us seek:
Now that I understand that - I am relinquishing my selfish desire for Troy to be saved…he will be free – and thankfully I am one more step closer to Freedom. We die every day…
Muata Nowe