Laureates seek clemency for Death Row inmate [Tookie Williams]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11/24/5 | Lynda Gledhill

[SmithL]

Sacramento -- A bevy of Nobel laureates and celebrities have written a letter urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute the death sentence of Stanley Tookie Williams, himself a Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Williams, 51, the co-founder of the Crips gang convicted of four 1979 murders, is scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on Dec. 13.

The letter praises Williams' work as an anti-gang crusader, including writing children's books.

"Each year at the holiday season voices the world over cry out for peace," states the letter to the governor. "This year, one of them, a voice of great power, will be lost unless you act."

Among the signatories of the letter are Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Irene Kahn, secretary general of Amnesty International; and Mairead Corrigan Maguire, who founded the Community of the Peace People in 1976.

Among the celebrities who signed the letter are Jason Alexander, Jackson Browne, Russell Crowe, Carl Reiner and Susan Sarandon.

Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, with the Human Rights Center of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, also signed the letter. She is a cousin of Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver.

On Monday, civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Bianca Jagger visited Williams at San Quentin. His case has become a cause for many activists.

"Through his work, gang truces have been mediated, and long-standing wounds have been healed," the letter states. "Lives have been saved."

Williams has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize each year since 2000, initially by a member of the Swiss parliament and more recently by a Bay Area philosophy professor.

[goldstategop]

We don't know if he's truly changed. What we do know is his victims' blood cries out from the ground. And they will never be at rest until their murderer is made to pay for his crimes.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Melas]

Perhaps you should reread my post. I don't typically spell lethal injection g-u-i-l-l-o-t-i-n-e. Which was what I was referring to in post #62.

For what it's worth though. I'm becoming increasingly against capital punishment. It was more palletable to me when I was an atheist.

[goldstategop]

Its not my view. The Bible demands, "whoever sheds a man's blood, his blood shall by man be shed. For Man was made in the image of God." The death penalty for murder goes back to the very beginning of human existence. We are the only creatures to walk the earth who know the difference between right and wrong and the taking of an innocent human life is the ultimate evil. It is therefore fitting of the ultimate punishment. We must show mercy of course but only to those who have not transgressed against the lives of their fellow men.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Melas]

What we do know is his victims' blood cries out from the ground. And they will never be at rest until their murderer is made to pay for his crimes.

You're translating the screams of blood from the ground now? While certainly possessing a certain literary flair, the statement lacks a certain...sanity.

I'm struck by the fact that if I were to ever be murdered, some guy, like you, would no doubt be speaking for me and prattling on about my blood is screaming from the ground for vengence, blah blah. In truth, if I am ever murdered, I can only pray now, that I would have the mercy my Lord showed his own murderers when he uttered, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

[Steel Wolf]

Williams, 51, the co-founder of the Crips gang convicted of four 1979 murders, is scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on Dec. 13

So, let me get this straight.

Tookie starts a gang, and a gang war that lasts for years. While in prison, he helps negotiate a truce to the gang problem that he had a hand in starting.

Because of this, his supporters would like for us to overlook the fact that he murdered four people?

Did I miss something, or is this idea dumb from start to finish?

[goldstategop]

Jesus was still alive when he forgave the people who put him to death. A living person can forgive whoever he wishes. A dead person can't. If God forbid, you were murdered, I would have no right to forgive the murderer on your behalf and neither could any one else. You can seek forgiveness for a transgression upon a human being only from the person whom you've offended. God is not involved in that at all. The only time we may request of God to show us mercy is when we have sinned against Him. That is the crux of the difference in when and whom you can forgive.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[dfwgator]

Gang members are nothing but domestic terrorists, they should all be sent to Gitmo along with the AQ vermin.

[goldstategop]

You haven't overlooked anything. If he hadn't murdered four innocent people, my view would be to let him out of prison. But he did murder them - and that's not something we can allow to slide by. He was ordered to die for those crimes and after 25 years, justice delayed is justice denied. The sentence must be carried out without further delay.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Melas]

Its not my view. The Bible demands, "whoever sheds a man's blood, his blood shall by man be shed.

Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth". But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. If anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

[Steel Wolf]

If he hadn't murdered four innocent people, my view would be to let him out of prison. But he did murder them - and that's not something we can allow to slide by.

The murders were committed during robberies. For all of the reasons to take someone's life, doing it because you want their stuff is a particularly cold and dispassionate reason.

There's something understandable about a crime of passion. It's not right, but as people we can empathise with someone who acts under extreme pressures of rage or jealousy. This is different. People that can kill for profit and not feel remorse have lost a vital part of their connection to the rest of humanity.

[Melas]

I told you that we were at an impass. Let's leave it at that. Suffice it to say that your church, and my church are not in agreement here. Let's leave it at that. Further argument isn't likely to serve any purpose.

[goldstategop]

Its so absurd, Paul realized the stupidity of it and substituted for it a new rule: "Respect the authorities - for the sword they wield is that of a minister of God sworn to execute wrath upon him who doeth evil."

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[taxesareforever]

I'm not a Christian so I don't share the philosophy of forgiving every one without strings attached.

Hope you are not lumping all Christians into the philosophy which opposes the death penalty. I don't subscribe to that philosophy and I also know many others that don't. Just because there are some Christians that do doesn't mean all Christians should be painted with the same brush.

[L.N. Smithee]

"Through his work, gang truces have been mediated, and long-standing wounds have been healed," the letter states. "Lives have been saved."

He should have thought of "saving lives" before he took four.

[goldstategop]

Murder is always evil. Some motives are more comprehensible than others but the murderer must ALWAYS be punished. Human life is precious and you cannot bring the dead back and the death penalty underlines like nothing else that your life depends not just on a fear of God but on a fear of the lives of others as well.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[Christian4Bush]

"Through his work, gang truces have been mediated, and long-standing wounds have been healed," the letter states. "Lives have been saved."

"Through his work, a gang was started, and long-standing humans have been murdered," Christian4Bush said. "Lives have been ended."

There. That's better.

[goldstategop]

Lives were taken. Its just like liberals to miss the obvious here.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[goldstategop]

I have strong views of right and wrong. And unlike liberals, I don't find it in me to embrace a murderer because he's all of a sudden a celebrity. That's the difference between me and those who are the moral squishes of our society.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[libs_kma]

"What is wrong with liberals?

I'm afraid that anyone who tried to answer that question comprehensively would die of old age in mid-sentence."

Good one thoughomator! Post of the day, hands down!

[goldstategop]

I don't mean to say every one and you're right most Christians don't share that view. My view of forgiveness is that its a beautiful thing and as long as we're alive let's forgive our family, friends and strangers we encounter when we can. Its the one thing God implanted in us that gives us power to grow from inside out into better people than we are now.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie.Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")