North Coast Xpress--Aug-Sept 97

CAN WE TOLERATE SERIAL KILLERS?

A Stupid ques-tion obviously! Some of our mod-ern societies toler-ate serial killers, this is for sure! But how can a society--especially our modern, democratic system that we are trying to promote as the archetype of society all over the world--accept maintaining a sadistic serial killer, one who premeditates his crimes? How can a country like the USA endure such a serial killer?

Impossible, you say?

You must be kidding!

When I reflect that the state of Texas is hurrying toward a new record in the number of U.S. citizens executed in one month, when Texas is anticipating reaching a record number of executions annually, when Texas is becoming one of the most perverted types of serial killers, with 10 to 20 years of premeditation before each killing, with the torture of delayed executions, with the torture of stays coming a few hours before the scheduled time of death-I must say that I do feel sick.

I don't agree with crime; I understand the anger, the rage, of the victims' relatives, even though I don't think that revenge is any help. But I don't accept the death of any human being, so I reject this slaughter happening weekly, sometimes daily! This is really sad-sad-sad and getting more and more absurd.

"The 1935 record for executions is smashed!" How can people take pride in that, celebrate that, dare to talk about that when they are talking about human life? Has human life anything to do with the Guinness book of records?
I don't like killers of any type, so I hate the way Texas is acting. This has nothing to do with deterrence. And everyone knows this has nothing to do with economy. Everyone knows that for the price of one single capital prosecution, from trial to execution, Texas can afford up to four or five life sentences.

This eagerness to kill is not for democracy. The U.S. is the only so-called "democratic" nation to retain this barbaric practice! Europe, Scandinavia, have not transformed into hooligan's camps since the death penalty has been stopped!

So what is the real use of this death penalty? Revenge! This is useless, this is primitive, this is certainly not the way for a responsible state to react. California, the most populous state and certainly not the most peaceful one, has executed "only" 4 prisoners (and that is 4 too many), while Texas has executed 122 citizens.

Why does Texas kill so many? Maybe for political reasons! If so, this is really shameful! I am afraid, when I see election years approaching, that each candidate will again, as usual, promise to sign more death warrants than the others, and will do his or her best to look the most ferocious! Is this supposed to be politic? Is this supposed to be democracy? Is this supposed to be human?

The huge difference in the number of executions from state to state shows just one thing: the administration of the death penalty in the USA is unfair. The "chance" to be executed is far different depending on the state you are living in. Since executions obviously have nothing to do with equality, they have to be banned! Human rights have nothing to do with geography! And certainly nothing to do with routine!

Speaking of routine, if the USA takes a big step backward, after going back to the chain gangs, why not go back to public executions? No, don't worry, there will be no gurney in front of Walls Unit in Texas, facing the windows of the Dairy Queen on 11th street. The public execution will be for the benefit of the TV audience! TV executions-what a lovely program, what an interesting one! But when these horror shows become routine too, what will be next?

I trust you--you will find something!.

--Dr. Pierre Duterte works in a French association taking care of refugees, victims of torture or repression in their homeland. He writes to death-row prisoners and prisoners in general population in a number of states in the U.S. He has been to the Texas death row twice.

Aug-Sept 97- - Archives - - NCXhome- - Electrons to Editor