Support NeoGAF

[Mammoth Jones]

What he says about himself may lack merit but what he says about the world we live in certainly does.

He's trying to obfuscate his own culpability by blaming the prison-industrial complex and systemic racism. Which I find disgusting. The reason is twofold:

The first is that he's so self absorbed that he really is blind to his own choices that put him there. Not racism. Not the prison industrial complex. Him.

The second is that there are REAL victims of the prison industrial complex. There are REAL victims of racism. And him lumping himself among them is an insult to their struggle.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

My frustration stems from the fact that death penalty threads on GAF are always derailed by a flood of posters expressing more or less the same sentiment: ":lol like I'd listen to this piece of shit, he deserves to die!"

I've always said in these threads that I agree that some have given up their right to live by the acts they commit, but that the system by which we carry out convictions and executions is so hopelessly flawed that I'm against the death penalty as a practical matter.

I'd even go so far as to say that Jasper is one of those who could be executed without moral reservations. His guilt is virtually 100% certain, and his crime was calculated and vicious. I agree that he's probably a sociopath who uses the broad problems with the justice system to rationalize his terrible behavior and make himself feel like a victim.

That doesn't mean that his points don't merit discussion, or that we can't discuss the death penalty in a reasoned fashion in this thread.


You did though. Your posts can be summed up as "he makes some good points, but I'm not wasting any breath on them because he's a piece of shit."

I'm not a mod, I'm just pointing out posts that in my humble estimation contribute nothing of substance.

Well, take that up with whoever made those comments in other threads because it wasn't me. I've explained in detail why I think what I think.

Listen, I'm not an advocate for the death penalty as it's currently implemented. Yet I'm pro-death penalty in theory. I believe that if you take a life in cold blood and the evidence is iron-clad that you forfeit your right to live.

However I just can't advocate the death penalty given all the horrible flaws in the legal system. But Mr. Jasper is a pretty rock solid example of the death penalty done right. Overwhelming evidence. Had solid legal representation (not court-appointed). Was given plea deal to avoid death penalty and refused. How is the fact that everyone in the courtroom was white and he the only black person relevant when he slit someone's throat ear to ear? He wasn't convicted on circumstantial evidence. And he was given the same plea deal others were given and refused. That's on him.

He's right that there is a prison industrial complex. He's right there is a racial bias in courts across america. But he's trying to use those injustices to imply his own confinement and punishment is unjust when I don't believe it is. Now, if you want to take what I'm saying and twist what I'm saying to: ":lol like I'd listen to this piece of shit, he deserves to die!" then you'd be the one doing a disservice tot he discourse in this thread.

This is supposed to be a discussion forum, and many posts in this thread are keeping a civil, open discussion from happening.

We're all siting here having a perfectly civil and open discussion. But the thing about an open discussion is that we have to accept that some will disagree. That's ok. It doesn't make their posts invalid because they bring an "uncomplicated" perspective to the table. And it doesn't make their posts valid because they bring a more nuanced view to the table. Or vice-versa.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

The money and time spent is more symptomatic of HOW the death penalty is carried out in this country, not the form of punishment itself. And speaking of time and money, I don't see how keeping a truly heinous individual alive serves the causes of civility and human rights.

We spend that money so that other's have the same rights. If we start drawing lines with the mentality that some people don't deserve to fight for themselves in the legal system, we open up a whole new world of misconduct and malice. It's a small price to pay for the benefit of all to make sure justice stays blindfolded.

And you're a goddamn lunatic. We make sure we are civil because we are better than those who carry out evil acts in the name of violent justice. I find it goddamn disgusting that we actually have people supporting the concept of bureaucratic murder. That in a board-room setting, people who have the noble job of withholding justice, are supposed to go into the territory of deciding who gets to have a fair trial and who gets to die. That's a sociopathic and mentally insane notion that we should condemn as such.

 

[J-Rod]

It seems like people empathize more with the violent and sexually violent criminals than the actual victims themselves and their families, and then consider themselves the better person for it.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

And you're a goddamn lunatic.

Speaking of civil discourse....

 

[Blader]

On the one hand, the criminal justice system is most definitely racially-biased and incredibly broken (though not irreparably so, imo). On the other hand, that doesn't really have anything to do with this case.

You can't write a whole treatise on the importance of empathy in the human experience when you plotted and participated in the violent murder of another person. People saying you need to separate the man's argument from his deeds are indulging in a confirmation bias that dismisses the entire impetus for this conversation in the first place.

The prison system desperately needs reform, and I'd prefer the death penalty to be abolished than kept, but Jasper isn't deserving of either. And the fact that he's making the argument probably does more to hurt than help prison reform advocates.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

Speaking of civil discourse....

Gloves are off.

 

[Skinpop]

Shame is basically irrelevant. It hardly serves any good purpose. I would like you to explain your view more.

Shame is basically an expression of conscience. You can't have a conscience and no shame, for better or worse it's what keeps us in check and enables us to form society.
As such it's the most important feeling because without it there could be no conscience.

A society where people didn't know shame would be a psychopathic anarchy.

 

[jaded_up_]

That in a board-room setting, people who have the noble job of withholding justice, are supposed to go into the territory of deciding who gets to have a fair trial and who gets to die. That's a sociopathic and mentally insane notion that we should condemn as such.

What are you even talking about? How is a fair trail and imposing the death penalty mutually exclusive? You keep calling people who are for the death penalty sociopaths and mentally insane without putting forward a single notion as to why they are as such.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

It seems like people empathize more with the violent and sexually violent criminals than the actual victims themselves and their families, and then consider themselves the better person for it.

Seems like people construct strawmen, and then argue with them instead.

 

[Josh7289]

Gloves are off.

I disagree with your attitude too.

Shame is basically an expression of conscience. You can't have a conscience and no shame, for better or worse it's what keeps us in check and enables us to form society.
As such it's the most important feeling because without it there could be no conscience.

My conscience derives from empathy. I behave in a way I believe to be moral (as best as possible) because of empathy and my understanding that doing good things for people makes them feel good, which makes me feel good. And doing bad things to people makes them feel bad, which makes me feel bad. Shame doesn't factor into this. If I hurt someone, I feel bad because I know they're feeling bad and that I caused it, so I resolve to not do that again to them.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Gloves are off.

How DARE people have different worldviews! On a discussion forum!

 

[RoadHazard]

At first I almost felt a bit sorry for the guy, due to how he presented his involvement in the murder. He really made me believe his sentence was unfair. But then I read what the victim's brother has to say about it, what Jasper's role actually was, and that made me lose all and any empathy I might at first have felt. Nope, fuck this monster all the way to hell for the unimaginably evil thing he has done.

Now, I'm against the death penalty, for a variety of reasons. I don't think a country should ever kill its own citizens for any reason. There are better ways. But this guy's impending death, when looking at it in isolation as a thing that's gonna happen, doesn't bother me one bit. Good riddance to worthless scum. (Which, again, doesn't mean I actually think the death penalty should exist.)

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

His letter is nothing more than an exercise in finger pointing. The guy is still in denial.
How does he expect us to have empathy and "walk in his shoes" if he doesn't even tell us his personal story. Instead, he even tries to deny his role in the murder. He completely glosses over why he's in prison in order to point fingers at society.
He could have used this opportunity to show the world that he accepts responsibility for his actions and that he's sorry and regrets what happened. Nope. He doesn't.
He could have used the opportunity to tell us that people can change and that the death penalty is an injustice. He doesn't.
Hell, he could have shown us that he actually has a heart. I sure as hell don't see that.

 

[abuC]

Sorry, I'm not about to walk in your shoes and slit someones throat bruh.

I'm fine with the death penalty as long as the person in question is 100% guilty without any doubt. I'd even argue that they shouldn't wait more than a month or two to execute them, cut down costs.

 

[Epsilon-delta]

It seems like people empathize more with the violent and sexually violent criminals than the actual victims themselves and their families, and then consider themselves the better person for it.

I was about to write that but you beat me to it. I wonder if they will hold the same convictions if one of their family members was a victim of a violent or sexual crime?

It's very easy to write on an Internet forum for others to look past a brutal, violent crime when it doesn't directly affect them and their family.

 

[KingGondo]

Well, take that up with whoever made those comments in other threads because it wasn't me. I've explained in detail why I think what I think.

Listen, I'm not an advocate for the death penalty as it's currently implemented. Yet I'm pro-death penalty in theory. I believe that if you take a life in cold blood and the evidence is iron-clad that you forfeit your right to live.

However I just can't advocate the death penalty given all the horrible flaws in the legal system. But Mr. Jasper is a pretty rock solid example of the death penalty done right. Overwhelming evidence. Had solid legal representation (not court-appointed). Was given plea deal to avoid death penalty and refused. How is the fact that everyone in the courtroom was white and he the only black person relevant when he slit someone's throat ear to ear? He wasn't convicted on circumstantial evidence. And he was given the same plea deal others were given and refused. That's on him.

He's right that there is a prison industrial complex. He's right there is a racial bias in courts across america. But he's trying to use those injustices to imply his own confinement and punishment is unjust when I don't believe it is. Now, if you want to take what I'm saying and twist what I'm saying to: ":lol like I'd listen to this piece of shit, he deserves to die!" then you'd be the one doing a disservice tot he discourse in this thread.

We're all siting here having a perfectly civil and open discussion. But the thing about an open discussion is that we have to accept that some will disagree. That's ok. It doesn't make their posts invalid because they bring an "uncomplicated" perspective to the table. And it doesn't make their posts valid because they bring a more nuanced view to the table. Or vice-versa.

I agree with you and I'm glad we could sort this out.

I didn't mean to overly simplify your views on the issue, and to be fair I'm probably amalgamating a whole bunch of posters' ideas into one generalization, which is unfair.

You're also right that we should be having this discussion just because it's important, and not because Gawker wanted pageviews (and I'm sure they knew Jasper's background before they posted his letter) and the HuffPost made it a "must-read."

Actually, I think a Death Penalty OT would be a pretty good idea so we can discuss these issues at length.

 

[Qwell]

This is basically how I feel about this letter.
I can't ride with him specifically as the flag-bearer for the points he made in his letter, but the points he made in this letter are on-point for the most part.

The way to providence is definitely that education portion - but not only does it have to be black kids that are made aware of things, it's everyone. Every kid should have to have a "black history" thing...or at least, some kind of history class that makes sure to teach about US ethnic history in detail for a semester (or a year), and it should do that uniformly across all curricula in each state. Every 5th grade US history/social studies class should be this, or every 8th grade one, or something like that - just to make sure that young students in America know in detail about Native Americans, and black slavery, and so on.

Anyway, this was a very interesting letter.

The part about education is one if the issues I have with what he is talking about. You mention that every 5th grade US history / social studies class should teach this... but they already are. At least the schools that I went to, and my family, and friends. I know we don't have a single curriculum for the entire country, but we do have teaching standards as far as I'm aware.

Some schools probably do better than others, and I'm sure schools in bad areas probably have a more difficult time teaching these things if their classes if they have other social issues going on. But the fact is in this day and age education is very accessible. We have public schools, private schools, libraries, the internet, there are a tremendous amount of places to get education besides just the schools. Not to mention that fact that pointed out above and in a few other posts we do already teach these things in detail during middle / high school.

So I guess then the question is, if it is a question of an identity crisis, and if he isn't paying attention in school because of the sirens, and gunshots and his first love being shot... how do those things change? How do we get him and others in his situation to focus on the education to better themselves before they go down a path of crime?

 

[Fudgepuppy]

How DARE people have different worldviews! On a discussion forum!

I like the irony of this post.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Sorry, I'm not about to walk in your shoes and slit someones throat bruh.

Agreed.

I'm fine with the death penalty as long as the person in question is 100% guilty without any doubt. I'd even argue that they shouldn't wait more than a month or two to execute them, cut down costs.

Disagree. If 60 days is all that is allowed prior to executing people we would pretty much guarantee a poor appeals process. The reason appeals take so long is because the system is congested but also because the death penalty is the final punishment. It can NOT be recinded. So we as a society need to do our due diligence to make sure we're not putting an innocent person to death. In this aspect I believe there are enough failures in the system where we need to rethink the death penalty.

But this guy is 100% guilty. So I'm not exactly lighting a candle for him...

I like the irony of this post.

Forgot the "civil discourse" part, eh? There's a difference in having a different opinion and being rude in your expression of your disagreement.

i.e. I just articulated why I disagree with you and didn't name call. You should give it a try. Feels good.

 

[jaded_up_]

I like the irony of this post.

I like your spin on the "Be tolerant of my intolerance!!!!" argument.

 

[Skinpop]

I disagree with your attitude too.



My conscience derives from empathy. I behave in a way I believe to be moral (as best as possible) because of empathy and my understanding that doing good things for people makes them feel good, which makes me feel good. And doing bad things to people makes them feel bad, which makes me feel bad. Shame doesn't factor into this. If I hurt someone, I feel bad because I know they're feeling bad and that I caused it, so I resolve to not do that again to them.

How can it not factor into it when shame is the most intimate reflection you can ever have of yourself? Shame is the part of you that judges your actions according to our social standards and any moral values you might have formed through whatever means(empathy for example).

Take an example where I would steal 1 cent from every person in the world, that's hardly something worth empathizing over since no single person will realistically even notice or feel bad about it. Shame however doesn't care about those things, it's concerned with you as an individual and whatever actions you are taking - and would deter you form stealing even when no one would take any harm from it.

Empathy doesn't really concern itself with morals or ethics, it's nothing more than being able to simulate the feelings of others in yourself. That's an incredibly powerful and important part of being human, but you can't have ethics and conscience without shame.

I'd rather we abolished capital punishment out of shame for what we've collectively become than the empathy for someone who is subject to it.

Shame gets a lot of shit because of the damage it can cause when people are abused and indoctrinated with harmful ideas. But it's not a bad feeling, it is fundamental to the construction of society.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

I like your spin on the "Be tolerant of my intolerance!!!!" argument.

I will gladly take the role of intolerant in a case like this.

 

[onadesertedisland]

I don't agree with the death penalty, but the admonishment of guilt as a mere bystander is self-serving. How sure are we that this story is true?

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I agree with you and I'm glad we could sort this out.

Absolutely Always a pleasure to engage in civil discourse with posters that may disagree with some things I say yet we can still find common ground.

I didn't mean to overly simplify your views on the issue, and to be fair I'm probably amalgamating a whole bunch of posters' ideas into one generalization, which is unfair.

You're also right that we should be having this discussion just because it's important, and not because Gawker wanted pageviews (and I'm sure they knew Jasper's background before they posted his letter) and the HuffPost made it a "must-read."

Actually, I think a Death Penalty OT would be a pretty good idea so we can discuss these issues at length.

It's a vital discussion we have because I understand the anti-death penalty sentiment. I just disagree sometimes with it when it comes to people that have robbed others of their lives due to selfish reasons. This guy for example wanted studio equipment to sell for cash. And he ended someone's life for it. I'm just disgusted that he'd rather blame the system than own his role in where he is right now.

I will gladly take the role of intolerant in a case like this.

If your goal is to flaunt your own moral self-righteousness then go ahead.

But if you're actually trying to have a conversation you don't accomplish much with that attitude.

 

[onadesertedisland]

Just read that he admitted to "cutting" the throat of David Alejandro. That letter carries significantly less weight. Dude is dead on guilty of murder. Still not for his execution.

 

[Fudgepuppy]

If your goal is to flaunt your own moral self-righteousness then go ahead.

But if you're actually trying to have a conversation you don't accomplish much with that attitude.

For me this isn't a conversation, it's a way for me to vent.

Didn't want to piss anyone off though, so I'm sorry.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

For me this isn't a conversation, it's a way for me to vent.

I think this forum would be a very different place if everyone took that path, right?

Didn't want to piss anyone off though, so I'm sorry.

Not pissed at all, just sayin'. I get what you're saying, just not how you're saying it, lol. It's all good.

 

[Josh7289]

How can it not factor into it when shame is the most intimate reflection you can ever have of yourself? Shame is the part of you that judges your actions according to our social standards and any moral values you might have formed through whatever means(empathy for example).

Take an example where I would steal 1 cent from every person in the world, that's hardly something worth empathizing over since no single person will realistically even notice or feel bad about it. Shame however doesn't care about those things, it's concerned with you as an individual and whatever actions you are taking - and would deter you form stealing even when no one would take any harm from it.

Empathy doesn't really concern itself with morals or ethics, it's nothing more than being able to simulate the feelings of others in yourself. That's an incredibly powerful and important part of being human, but you can't have ethics and conscience without shame.

I'd rather we abolished capital punishment out of shame for what we've collectively become than the empathy for someone who is subject to it.

Shame gets a lot of shit because of the damage it can cause when people are abused and indoctrinated with harmful ideas. But it's not a bad feeling, it is fundamental to the construction of society.

Then shame really doesn't matter to me much, because to use your example, I would not mind at all taking 1 cent from those who could really afford it. I mean, that's exactly what taxing the rich does. It wouldn't hurt them one bit but it would help me a lot, or if I redistributed it to those who really need it, it would help them a lot. However, I wouldn't take 1 cent from those who can't afford it, like the billions of people in poverty. That 1 cent matters a whole lot to them and taking it would make their lives much worse.

So what I'm saying here is that my morality on this subject is based on empathy and objective analysis, not shame. Whether it would help or hurt, it's based on how much people are struggling and how much something like this would help them.

 

[Lamassu]

Next Month, the state of Texas has resolved to kill me like some kind of rabid dog

Trust me it's more humane than what you did to your victim, good riddance.

 

[AlimNassor]

His point is that he received the death penalty because of how the law is constructed - a murder alone wouldn't attract the death penalty, but it does if you steal something as well. Why is the 'actual' murderer (and IMO both parties should be held fully responsible for the murder) not on death row too? Because he didn't receive the stolen goods? It's inconsistent.

You're becoming hung up on one detail and ignoring the man's words. The letter was not about his crimes because he had not been specifically asked to write about his crimes. We don't know how he feels about them now. His writing is eloquent and shows significant thought however, and I don't think that 'murderer' and 'worthy of listening to' are mutually exclusive ideas.

Yes, we're the real monsters for not showing sympathy for a cold-bolded killer. I'm an evil uncaring monster for not having a shed of empathy towards a convicted killer who has not show any remorse whatsoever.

 

[Skinpop]

Then shame really doesn't matter to me much, because to use your example, I would not mind at all taking 1 cent from those who could really afford it. I mean, that's exactly what taxing the rich does. It wouldn't hurt them one bit but it would help me a lot, or if I redistributed it to those who really need it, it would help them a lot. However, I wouldn't take 1 cent from those who can't afford it, like the billions of people in poverty. That 1 cent matters a whole lot to them and taking it would make their lives much worse.

No that's not what taxing does. Taxing is a majority agreement where we've collectively decided to redistribute some portion of every $ spent/earned. You don't have any mandate to "tax" others for your own individual benefit, that's stealing.

So I guess cheating on tests is also ok? It helps you a lot and no one gets hurt over it?

 

[DoYouEvenLift?]

I think the person delivering the message is often as important as the message being delivered, and this guy is just about the worst person ON EARTH to deliver this message (which, incidentally, I agree with).

 

[Mammoth Jones]

I think the person delivering the message is often as important as the message being delivered, and this guy is just about the worst person ON EARTH to deliver this message (which, incidentally, I agree with).

That's exactly what the decedent's brother was saying. Exactly.

 

[Josh7289]

No that's not what taxing does. Taxing is a majority agreement where we've collectively decided to redistribute some portion of every $ spent/earned. You don't have any mandate to "tax" others for your own individual benefit, that's stealing.

So I guess cheating on tests is also ok? It helps you a lot and no one get's hurt over it?

It doesn't help you if you don't learn anything.

Yeah, I'm really not a big fan of shame. I think morality can be derived from other sources.

 

[onadesertedisland]

With the information about the murder, I now internalize the letter as that of a scared man facing death.

I do not wish for this man to be killed, but as he so eloquently dictates about empathy, it appears he does not share that for his victim.

I think what is happening is that he is experiencing the same fear of David, only drawn out until his execution.

I agree with some of his points, and him being a murderer does not invalidate them. However, treating this letter as a moment of clarity regarding the legal system is silly. Our justice system is racist, yes, and at best a crude system of punishment and revenge. Will it change? Hopefully. Ray Jasper is unrepentant and brutally took a man's life over a petty amount of money. His life was full of terrible events, some worse than others. Yet the vast majority of us don't kill people because our childhood was bad.

 

[gothamghost]

His scenario in which I am the only white person in the court room was compelling until I remembered I slit someones throat. Then it didn't really matter who was there.

 

[Vilix]

He takes no responsiblities for his actions. He shows no remorse. He pretty much blames everyone and everything else.

 

[Skinpop]

It doesn't help you if you don't learn anything.

Sure it helps saying anything else is just a naive point of view. Say I'm reliably able to get 85% on tests, now say I cheat and manage 99%. Say I want to raise my average to get access to some other unrelated education - helps massively. It would obviously be harmful if I was studying to become a md and relied on cheats to even get through the education, but it's not as black and white as that.

I get the feeling you see shame as a bad, harmful feeling when it really isn't. Like any other feeling it's essential but shouldn't be allowed to overwhelm us.

 

[Blader]

I will gladly take the role of intolerant in a case like this.

Why? There are no stakes in this discussion, no real world change that may be affected. It's just people talking, and when you self-admittedly take up a stance of intolerance and make ridiculous gestures of "taking the gloves off," you only undermine and devalue your own position.

 

[TangoAlphaLima]

Imagine you're a young white guy facing capital murder charges where you can receive the death penalty... the victim in the case is a black man... when you go to trial and step into the courtroom... the judge is a black man... the two State prosecutors seeking the death penalty on you... are also black men... you couldn't afford an attorney, so the Judge appointed you two defense lawyers who are also black men... you look in the jury box... there's 8 more black people and 4 hispanics... the only white person in the courtroom is you... How would you feel facing the death penalty? Do you believe you'll receive justice?

As outside of the box as that scene is, those were the exact circumstances of my trial. I was the only black person in the courtroom.

Again, I'm not playing the race card, but empathy is putting the shoe on the other foot.

Sure seems like the race card is being played to me. And maybe it's a valid complaint, but I'd sure like to see how the verdict and death penalty decision on Texas juries in similar cases with white defendants came out. Committing a heinous crime and receiving the maximum penalty on its own is not sufficient proof of racism.

 

[MGrant]

I think he would have a point if he kept his own story out of it. You want to fight the for-profit prison industry? Do it without insulting David Alejandro and his family by trivializing your involvement in his murder. As soon as Jasper starts defending himself in his letter, his argument loses all validity and quickly turns into a screed from a man with a martyr complex.

You weren't just hanging out with some dudes who killed a man out of the blue, you were instrumental in planning and executing his murder.

 

[Mammoth Jones]

Sure seems like the race card is being played to me. And maybe it's a valid complaint, but I'd sure like to see how the verdict and death penalty decision on Texas juries in similar cases with white defendants came out. Committing a heinous crime and receiving the maximum penalty on its own is not sufficient proof of racism.

It's a valid complaint for many men and women of color who stand before a jury of their "peers" to be judged but it's not a valid point for this guy specifically. But you're right that his punishment isn't proof of racism in this specific case.

 

[IISANDERII]

Yes, we're the real monsters for not showing sympathy for a cold-bolded killer. I'm an evil uncaring monster for not having a shed of empathy towards a convicted killer who has not show any remorse whatsoever.

This is a serious question: Did you quote the wrong person when posting your response?

 

[abuC]

Agreed.



Disagree. If 60 days is all that is allowed prior to executing people we would pretty much guarantee a poor appeals process. The reason appeals take so long is because the system is congested but also because the death penalty is the final punishment. It can NOT be recinded. So we as a society need to do our due diligence to make sure we're not putting an innocent person to death. In this aspect I believe there are enough failures in the system where we need to rethink the death penalty.

But this guy is 100% guilty. So I'm not exactly lighting a candle for him...

That's the thing though, I feel if they are without a shadow of doubt guilty the death penalty should be expedited. If we all know for certain you did it there shouldn't be any appeal process, just get them out of here as soon as possible.

My friends' father was murdered by his girlfriend, she also stabbed his son and attempted to kill him. She's doing 25 years right now and in my opinion she should have been put to death years ago. Maybe I'm biased, as I really liked him and he was one of the nicest people you could meet, meanwhile this woman that took his life has a chance to get out within my lifetime, that isn't fair IMO.

 

[Laieon]

When you have a black man name John Williams and a white man name John Williams, the black man got his name from the white man. Within that lies a lost of identity. There are blacks in this country that don't even consider themselves African. Well, what are we? When did we stop being African? If you ask a young black person if they're African, they will say 'No, I'm American'. They've lost their roots. They think slavery is their roots. Again, its a strong identity crisis.

I'm with the "young black person" on this one. I'm not black myself, but I feel the same way. My ancestors might have been from somewhere else, but I was born in America, I'm American.

Overall I don't really feel much remorse for guy. I don't agree with the death penalty (and I'm in Texas...) and feel like rehabilitation should be stressed more than punishment, but it seems like he's just wanting to blame the system instead of taking responsibility for his actions. He puts the blame on just about everything while ignoring the elephant in the room - himself. He choose to participate in a robbery and murder, nobody forced him to. I think it's even more disgusting when he knew had a 6 week old daughter to take care of.

 

[MYE]

The death penalty is the dumbest fucking thing ever.
Lethal injection in this day and age, and being practiced on a supposedly first world country, is a goddamn tragedy. The way its currently sentenced on people. Inexcusable.

 

[jerry1594]

He's right about some stuff but as docile and repentant as he may be he still did that thing and as such will pay the price.

 

[GrandHarrier]

The day that the dead can be brought back to life is the day I will have empathy for a convicted murderer.

You always have a choice, doesn't matter your genetics or your upbringing, at the end of the day it is your choice that ends someones life.

 

[horsebird]

He's right about some stuff but as docile and repentant as he may be he still did that thing and as such will pay the price.

He's not at all repentant. To date he doesn't believe he committed murder. It's hard to have empathy for him, and while I'm indifferent to him being put to death I'd be fine with him serving life as an alternative.