tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3815011.post-885658892003-02-05T02:37:00.000Z2003-02-06T14:11:47.000Z<b>For shame, Texas</b> <br /> <br />I see on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2726927.stm">BBC Online</a> site that Jackie Elliott, who was born in the UK, has been executed in Texas for the rape and murder of a woman. Regardless of whether he was actually guilty - and the fact that there is doubt ought to have stopped the execution on its own (the family's Conservative British MP, John Gummer, even says the case would not have reached the courts over here) - it's deeply depressing that in the 21st century one of the most advanced nations on earth still believes that killing people is an acceptable form of justice. I mean, here's the list of the top 10 users of the death penalty: <br /> <br />China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United States, Taiwan, Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Belarus and Kyrgistan. <br /> <br />Barbaric doesn't begin to cover it - and no, the fact that Mr Elliott <i>might</i> himself have been barbaric does not make it okay for the state to be so in return. I'll stop now before the anger overtakes me. <br /> <br /><b><center>Current Mood: =:(</b> <br /><font size="1"><i>[sad]</i></font> <br /><b><center>Music: Oasis, <i>Cast No Shadow</i></b>Loganberryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115657707038920406noreply@blogger.com