On Tuesday, December 13, 2005 11:57 AM Al posted: <...snip...> >What do you think? Should a possibly re-habilitated serial killer be >forgiven? Have you bought any of his children's books for your kids? Have >you ever been a member of the Crips or Bloods?
My answers to your questions are: Yes, anyone can be forgiven. I have not bought (or even heard of) any of his books. I only claimed membership in one 'gang': the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) in the 60's. However Tookie's case is much more complex than this. There are a number of things that are at issue: 1. Did he actually commit the murders? 2. Did he receive a fair trail? 3. Was the death penalty warranted in his case? 4. Was he really rehabilitated? 5. Does it matter if he was really rehabilitated? 6. Should the death penalty be permitted under the law at all? My (very short) answers to these are: 1. I assume so. I have no reason to doubt the verdict of the jury. 2. I assume so. I have heard nothing to the contrary. If he believed he didn't he sure had enough time to appeal. 3. I'm not an expert in California law, but from what I understand he was indeed eligible for the death penalty in his case. 4. I don't know. 5. I don't think so. When the sentence is the death penalty I would the goal of the criminal justice system is not rehabilitation. 6. That's the real question and could be the topic of its own forum. I'm sure one already exists for it and is very, very busy right now. That has to be asked and answered by each individual on a personal basis, and by each municipality/society on a political basis. My personal opinion is there should be no death penalty. The municipality I live in does not have a death penalty and is not likely to consider one in the near future so I do not have to contend with it on a political basis. Gassho...Bill! ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
