What Martin Luther King and Albert Camus Had To Say About The Death Penalty
66"Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminal's deed, however calculated, can be compared. For there to be an equivalency, the death penalty would have to punish a criminal who had warned his victim of the date at which he would inflict a horrible death on him and who, from that moment onward, had confined him at his mercy for months. Such a monster is not encountered in private life." -Albert Camus.
" I do not think that God approves the death penalty for any crime, rape and murder included. Capital punishment is against the better judgment of modern criminology, and, above all, against the highest expression of love in the nature of God." -Martin Luther King.
"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." --Martin Luther King, Jr
It's my opinion that capital punishment exists because the elites want it to exist. You and I are being conditioned to accept that a government can and will murder it's citizens at it's own whims. If you look very far into the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, here in Texas; than you'll see that evidence of guilt regarding the crime for which the government executes you isn't even required.
Sadly, Rick Perry was again re-elected as governor of the Great State of Texas. There's little doubt that that death chamber assembly line will be rolling along as usual, and that state sponsored murder of the governed by it's government will continue to set the tone for future government oppression and violence against it's own citizenry. But never you mind that, is'n't Dancing With The Stars on?
It is my position that the fourth, and unofficial arm of our government, the mass media, a corrupt organization of elitist gangsters have the exact goal of lulling you into a waking, yet sleep filled delusion of materialism and greed-so that you can be just like them, and not care as your rights and liberties are slowly being stripped away from you-but please, go back to sleep-isn't it time for another season of American Idol and Kate Plus Eight?
~WTS~
But don't worry about this too much, dear citizens, isn't it football season? I thought so.
Let's Here YOUR Answer.
- A Siamese twin commits murder: the Explainer\'s 2009 question of the year. - Slate Magazine
Three weeks ago, the Explainer released the annual list of questions we were either unable or unwilling to answer in 2009 and asked readers to vote for the one that most deserved a response. By the time the polls had closed, more than 27,000 votes ha
Martin Luther King and the Death Penalty.
- David A. Love: Dr. King\'s Stance Against the Death Penalty
Much is known of the Montgomery bus boycott that Martin Luther King led in the 1950s. But rarely do we hear about his position against capital punishment.
Failed Executions, and Torture
Buy Books by M.L.K. on Amazon.com
 | Amazon Price: $11.99 List Price: $20.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $12.30 List Price: $23.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $6.28 List Price: $15.95 |
Buy Books By Albert Camus on Amazon.com!!
 | Amazon Price: $12.49 List Price: $25.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.67 |
 | Amazon Price: $5.78 List Price: $14.00 |
CommentsLoading...
Well said, and I had no idea that the murder rate goes UP after an execution. . . but it makes perfect sense, now that I think about it. Thanks so much for the comment!
Extraordinarily lucid look at the subject. Nice to see it in a truer light than merely whether or not a criminal deserves to die for a crime, which never seemed justified to me. But looking at it as a deliberate murder of a captive person is so much more explicit and exact a definition of what it is. And, yes, it does seem to exert the will of an elite whose actions go unpunished and are always outside the reach of ordinary people.
Good one. - and hello, neighbor. I have a nephew & his wife in Kaufman, by the way - well, not IN Kaufman; their addy is on an FM road.
Well Howdy Ma'am! I think I'm going to explore this topic further. Thank you for the comment! I think we probably agree on a whole slew of topics.
Amen Wesman, the whole thing is wrong and so in general is the prison industrial complex. I am reading a book by Angela Davis titled "Are Prisons Obsolete?" and it's heavy duty on how it all started and where it's going. It's enough to scare the shit out of you! Peace!! Tom
Does the book go into depth about the private prison, warehousing Americans for elitist profit scenario? I intend to write about that-but I'd bee better off reading about it first.
no incarceration for non-violent crimes is my belief. i'm so happy community service as a punishment is becoming more and more common.
Me too! I have GRAVE CONCERNS about the criminal private prison industry though.
It sure does, Angela Davis was a Black Panther back in the 60's and writes in great detail about incarceration and it definitely covers the current prison complex. It's a killer book. I got to go to a rally for her back in the 60's, she's always stirred me to the core. I remember being the only paleface at that rally. You should check her out for sure, I think to make it clear to folks it's her she goes by Angela Y. Davis.
Cool. I've got some connects in the prison reform and prisoner's rights activism circuit. I could probably just ask for that book and get it in the mail-or I could add it to the Christmas list!
i agree with ya wesman i locked up in prison in there is no freedom and i wish i could see my kids and ask them what they want lol i bysexual
Well, I suppose being bisexual would be "nice" for one in prison.
In any case, I hope that you can get out and have a great life, raven.
cathylynn99 Level 4 Commenter 18 months ago
i have been against capital punishment for as long as i can remember. it's not even a deterrent. when someone is executed, then the murder rate in the surrounding area goes UP. executions are like saying murder is okay under some circumstances.
given that there but for the grace of god or genetics or upbringing go i, i see no excuse for condemning a fellow human being.