In the governorship of Rick Perry, Texas has executed more than 250 prisoners, many of them with very low IQs (this contravenes US law). As I think I've said before, Perry is on record (and I've heard him) as saying that he wouldn't lose sleep if any of these prisoners were later found to have been inoocent. Just as well, as many of the verdicts were dubious.
I have no idea when it will be J's turn (my pen friend). But I dread it. I recently sent him a subscription to a magazine he likes. Should I give him a year's subscriptoin or six months? Difficult, when you don't know how long the recipient has to live.
J writes amazing letters. We have been discussing religion, and he says: I have no idea what love or faith are supposed to feel like. Does that lessen me? Since I've never been loved, how would I know what it is?...I have never been loved. I don't feel loss becuse of it. I used to try to, but if you've never had chocolate ice cream, how would you feel loss if you never had it?
I could go on, but enough for now.
Now for the commercial (again)! There are over 200 prisoners on America's many death rows who are on the waiting list for pen friends. If you are interested, do please contact Lifelines to find out more. You won't regret it.
I have never understood the cruelty of Death Row - where prisoners exist - whether guilty or not - under the uncertainty of when their time will come.
ReplyDeleteIf capital punishment must exist - its action should take place as soon as possible after sentence (after time allowed for appeal).
Rambling a bit here Frances - sorry, sleep debt.
I will visit Lifelines now.
Anna :o]
Have visited Frances and will email Lifelines as my intention is to join.
ReplyDeleteKind regards
Anna :o]
Anna, I'm so pleased! You seem/sound exactly the right kind of person to do this. Lifelines are very supportive, so there's always someone to share problems with, and they send you an excellent quarterly magazine. Do let me know how you get on!
ReplyDelete"if you've never had chocolate ice cream..."
ReplyDeleteI can imagine a life without ice cream, but a life without love? It seems impossible, but of course it isn't. There is one school of thought that would have it people who have been unloved are more likely to commit murder. On the other hand, lovers' quarrels lead to death as often as any other cause.
A very difficult subject, Frances, and I admire you for having chosen to write to death row inmates. Not many of us have what it takes for such correspondence.
However, I'd say a one-year subscription would convey more hope than a six-month one.
K
Thanks, Kay. In fact I did the six month one because it was very expensive! It's odd - my posts about death row are my least popular ones, and I wonder why that is. An uncomfortable subject, I suppose. And I think unloved really does lead to violence. If you've never known tenderness, consideration etc, anger is a safe refuge. J has been abandoned by all his family, even his twin brother. But I know he feels affection for me - as much as he can at this distance - as I do for him. I really value his letters and the discussions we have.
DeleteI've also noticed that your posts about death row have the least response and I'm sure it's because it is such a difficult subject, but I admire you for doing what you do. For various reasons, it isn't for me I'm afraid, but I do read every post.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, anyway, Maggie!
DeleteIt is a difficult subject and I suspect that many people agree with the death penalty and therefore prefer not to be controversial on your blog. It is much easier to be controversial on one's own if that is the sort of blog one is (and many are) writing. By now you are well aware of my views on capital punishment and it's futility. However writing to those on death row is not something I would feel able to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughtful reply. GB. You may well be right. But what you say is true of many people - they say they "don't feel able" to write to a death row prisoner, and I respect that. For me, it's been a cause celebre literally all my life, and writing to a prisoner, though such a small thing, is something I can do about it. Oh -and give talks, if anyone' s interested, and doesn't live too far from Wiltshire...?
Delete