Troy Davis

Moments ago, the State of Georgia pronounced Troy Davis dead. For those of you who don't know, Davis was convicted 20 years ago of killing a police officer. The court case has been in question ever since, with 7/9 eye witnesses recanting their testimony and some even claiming police coercion and bullying. Contrary to popular belief, Davis did NOT confess in court and later recant-- witnesses said Davis confessed to THEM and later recanted their testimony saying the police threatened them with arrest and prosecution if they had not testified against Davis. 12 people found Davis guilty of murder in under 2 hours and another 12 sentenced him to death after 7. Nine hours of consideration to end the life of a person.

I know the death penalty is a sticky subject, and one that I believe brings out the worst in people. A woman I know who considers herself to be very Christian and forgiving said, "Sorry, buddy, you shot a police officer in the face, you get a one way ticket courtesy of the State of Georgia."

Though I'm not religious, how can you claim to follow a faith full of Grace and Forgiveness and claim that it isn't your place to judge and then turn around and say something like that?

Our judicial system isn't perfect, and even if it was I'd be against the Death Penalty.

1. The Davis case proves that even though there was (in my mind and the minds of many of my lawyer friends) plenty of room and reason to re-open this case and this investigation, the system is built to support its decisions. There's no wiggle room on high profile cases.

2. The potential for systematic abuse exists on the front end. Do I understand the desire of the officers in Davis' case to find justice for a fellow officer? Of course. But do I think they should have been entrusted to investigating the case and handling the witnesses? No. No I do not. We say that people are fine, upstanding citizens, but you don't know what kind of person you are until you're put in that situation.

3. Who are we to judge? I could not in good conscience send another human being to death under any circumstances. If they're mentally ill, can we really hold them responsible for their actions? If not, and they repent, wouldn't living with that for the rest of your life be punishment enough? And what about prison? Do we really think that's all sunshine and rainbows?

4. What's the point? Will killing someone for killing someone, tit for tat, an eye for an eye REALLY help serve justice? It doesn't bring back McPhail or any other person presumably killed by a death row inmate. I can't imagine the sorrow and pain that the victim's family feels, I know what it's like to have someone suddenly ripped from your life and to add the strife of a violent and potentially painful death AND a court case AND an execution... can't we just leave them to grieve? Why do we have to drag them through all of that? Are you going to feel any better about yourself for depriving another mother of her son? Another wife of her husband? Another child of her parent?

It isn't our place to judge. There are bigger forces than us at play and I, for one, am inclined to leave things to them. My thoughts are with both McPhail's and Davis's families tonight and I hope that both men are at peace in a better world than this one.

I'll leave you with this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which is something we should remember and take to heart each and every day:

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."