An article everyone should read

[genius]

This is an extremely well researched article about "legalized murder" in the United States. It shows how cold and inhuman American society and too many public officals have become. If you are brave enough to see what is happening in our society, this article is a must-read.

Where Has the Compassion Gone?
by Natasha H (age 12)

"My brother was a man of love and sentiment and compassion. He would not have wanted his death to be the cause of the taking of another life." - Edward M. Kennedy's call for clemency in the case of the People of the State of California vs. Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.

Imagine you are not part of the upper echelons of society. You have been falsely accused of a capital crime. You cannot afford an attorney or a team of investigators to prove your innocence. A public defender is appointed to represent you. He picks up your file, glosses through it, and has to be reminded which of his defendants you are. Although he encourages you to accept a plea bargain, you know you are innocent and go for a trial. The public defender, who didn't have the resources to properly check out facts proving your innocence, does a good job for someone who doesn't really know much about the case. You are convicted and sentenced to death. Then, the evidence comes in proving conclusively you are innocent. But it's after a deadline and you are executed. Too bad. Do you think America cares? According to most polls, no.
...

One word from a twelve-year-old to the supporters of the death penalty. My generation wants a country of hope, generosity, peace and respect for others. What gives anyone who supports the premeditated killing of potentially innocent defendants the right to tell my generation about morality or right and wrong? Wars and capital punishment are aberrations of those who have lost their sense of humanity. When are the adults in America going to learn to stop killing? When is the Democratic Party going to get the courage to pick leaders like Dennis Kucinich who will stand up against injustice and legalized murder?


http://debateusa.com/featured/hull_richter.htm

[burrowowl]

1. You are 12!

You show more sense than many of your elders. Hope there are many more young people like you.
Thank you for the post.

[JohnKleeb]

3. genius aint 12 silly, Nastasha is

Shes one of the kids in Kids for Kucinich.

[moz4prez]

5. either way nastasha is genius

12 years old! for chrissakes

[JohnKleeb]

6. I know and I myself am 16

[genius]

4. Natasha is 12. I'm not her.

But I will tell her you said that when I see her.

[JohnKleeb]

7. Could you tell her for me to keep up the good work supporting the best

damned candiate in the race.

[JohnKleeb]

2. When people compliment me here I point to Nastasha

shes really something else. Nastasha may not know this and admittingly I didnt know either until I read this, when President Truman got shot at, he spared one of the men who tried to kill him's life, the other wasnt spared because he got killed. I agree with Nastasha and Dennis. Where has the compassion gone? I agree.

[Lady President]

8. Go Natasha!

What a wonderful story. Her parents should be very proud of the insightful and sensitive girl they're raising. :)

[roguevalley]

9. I have always despised the death penalty. It demeans us all. Thank you,

sweetie, for a great post.

12? I love kids. They can be so clear sighted.
Her parents instilled in her good things and
she's made them her own.

RV, retired teacher of 11 and 12 year olds. Fifth
and sixth grade rule.

[no name no slogan]

10. Isn't it amazing

how clearsighted the wisdom of children can be-- unaffected by cynicism or pragmatism?

In our present society at our current level of "enlightenment", there is no rational reason for a death penalty of any sort. Most law-abiding nations have already come to this conclusion-- as did the US in the early 70s.

Maybe, someday, our nation will come back to its senses and abolish this horrific practice.