What time is it where you live? Come on - Talk to us
It's now about 10PM. (Sorry, I've been trying to coax my scared cat out from under a back stair- so far unsucessfully!)
I do understand that with LWOP the prisoners have some rights, and that these might be much more than I deem reasonable, or feel happy about. We have a mass shooting murderer here- our first, Julian Knight, 1987- who was granted a minimum sentance, (under the laws as they existed then), who has spent public time, money and energy on all sorts of crap, and is now seeking parole, (which he will never get), and it makes me sick to the very stomach. The thought of Jodi enjoying anything- television, good food, anything at all does the same.
Now I do need to give the matter some gritty thought, this has been really confronting for me, so please excuse me if it sounds like I am rambling...
If Jodi had run to Australia, she wouldn't have been extradited until the DP was off the table. Here, it is generally thought that the DP is less than civilised. (Austalia started it's white history as convict colony, and my state, Tasmania, as the "prison" for that colony and some of the true stories would make your blood curl) The ladies I work with, who are in their twenties, thought I must have been mistaken that any state in the USA still had the DP. (When I talking about this trial and it's outcome)
"Are you sure", they asked.
I am full to the brim of respect for the Alexander family, the courage and dignity that they have shown leaves me in awe, and I am aware that at least one sibling is in favour of the DP, and I think this is important.
Still- what if, by studying Jodi in the future, something can be learnt about people like her, that does good for the rest of the community? What if there is new technology to map her brain/ study her biology/ oh, do something with her that can actually help the innocent?
Dying seems pretty easy too, not like years and years passing by without any real hope or purpose. Harder on her family than her. It would certainly stop her being a threat, but I'm not completely convinced of the punishment value. (I know what I'd rather)
I really do have to think about this, don't I? My teaching was basically that it is an unpalatable, but inevitable responsiblity of a community to have to punish and care for people who are for all intents and purposes beyond redemption, but Jodi has made me question this!