Hole in the Wall
Justice Is Looking Too Much Like Vengeance
RECEIVED Sat., Aug. 25, 2007
Dear Editor,
Re: Your Quote of the Week [News, Aug. 24] on the death penalty by the governor's spokesperson: Perhaps many Texans do accept the imposition of the death penalty for "the most horrible crimes committed against our citizens." But do they accept the arbitrary way it is meted out, or the killing of a few innocent individuals for the sake of the illusion of public safety, or, as in the case of Kenneth Foster (with an execution date of Aug. 30), the killing of someone who never actually murdered anyone, never even knew a murder would occur?
This latter case has unnerved even those Texans Mr. Perry does speak for (as a visit to the Texas Moratorium Network website illustrates), especially since the actual murderer has already been executed and justice is beginning to look a bit too much like vengeance.
I call on the governor to stop Mr. Foster's execution, before this state commits a miscarriage of justice that will sicken all Texans.
Re: Your Quote of the Week [News, Aug. 24] on the death penalty by the governor's spokesperson: Perhaps many Texans do accept the imposition of the death penalty for "the most horrible crimes committed against our citizens." But do they accept the arbitrary way it is meted out, or the killing of a few innocent individuals for the sake of the illusion of public safety, or, as in the case of Kenneth Foster (with an execution date of Aug. 30), the killing of someone who never actually murdered anyone, never even knew a murder would occur?
This latter case has unnerved even those Texans Mr. Perry does speak for (as a visit to the Texas Moratorium Network website illustrates), especially since the actual murderer has already been executed and justice is beginning to look a bit too much like vengeance.
I call on the governor to stop Mr. Foster's execution, before this state commits a miscarriage of justice that will sicken all Texans.
Amy Mashberg