CNN: Tookie has been executed!!

No words.

No smilies.

I don't know much about the case. The thought of the state killing makes me ill.

Interestingly enough, the final I'm studying for at the moment is partially about capital punishment.

Also what level it ends up?

And how in the hell does this make the world a better place? :cry:

Don't ask me how.

Sorry, but I just cannot support state sanctioned killing. :cry:

:hug:

I lived in NC for 10 years. This was my first experience of seeing an execution thru the eyes of the local media.

Over and over, when the families of the victims were interviewed, asking how they felt, they said the same thing: "I'm glad he's dead, but it wasn't enough. He didn't suffer like my _____ did."

I guess they wanted torture as well as murder.

For a so-called "Christian" nation, we have a long way to go.

Thing is, to a lot of people they're the same thing, or at least one is inclusive of the other.

I can understand "I'm glad he's dead." I can't understand "It wasn't enough."

But then, I've never been in their position.

Bless me if I ever am. And the rest of us.

13 years ago, my best friend from high school was murdered.
I was in my first year in seminary, and my whole world came crashing down around me. I was asking serious questions, like "do you really believe in the resurrection?"

During this time, I was in contact with my close friends from back home. My friend Julie kept saying "I wish they'd kill him. I want him to hurt and suffer and die." But I just wasn't there. I asked a good friend in seminary "what's wrong with me? I loved Steph like a sister, we were that close... but I'm not screaming this guy's death." She got really quiet, and said "maybe your faith has grown to the point where you don't need vengeance."

Don't get me wrong. The pain was horrible... I spent many sleepless nights crying in agony. But I also knew that killing her killer would never take away the pain of her loss. Nothing could. Only time would make it more bearable. And only grace could allow me to forgive her killer. His execution would not have done a thing.