Date: Tue, 9 Mar 1999 01:30:45 -0500
From: Adam Weiss
WHY NOT EXECUTE TIMOTHY MCVEIGH?
I have been thinking about something and I was just hoping to see where
other abolitionists are at on the issue of Timothy McVeigh. As you probably
get from people, I have heard it said to many abolitionists "How can you be
against the death of a man who killed 168 people, including children in a
day care center?" Part of the answer is the same for any other case:
Killing is wrong. But when talking with non-abolitionists, I think it is
important to be able to address the vastness of McVeigh's crime. So here's
what I I've come up with and I'm interested in hearing what other people
have to say:
Timothy McVeigh might be an extremely sadistic man, one who displays
utter disrespect for life. His apparent brutality, his thirst for revenge,
and his hatred seem almost unparalleled. I don't want to be anything
like him. Even if its to a lesser degree, I don't want to give in
to brutality, revenge, and hatred.
In fact, I despise his values so much that I want to have the opposite ones
in my life. Those of healing, reverence for life, and forgiveness. I'm not
talking about forgive and forget. He must find a way to face up to the vast
amount of suffering he has caused. He should see every mother and father of
his victims and let him see the pain he has caused. Maybe he's too sadistic
for this to have any effect, but it is sure worth a try. Yes, our taxes
will be going to feed him, clothe him, and keep him alive, but I prefer that
to my taxes going to the acceptance of Timothy McVeigh's values.
Adam Weiss
Waltham, Massachusetts
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