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Last Updated: Oct 16th, 2008 - 13:33:17 |
The state of Texas is making preparations to carry out it's 400th execution. Since the Supreme Court lifted a ban on capital punishment in 1976, there have been 1,090 executions in the United States. Texas has carried out more than a third of those.
As a Texan, I am not proud of this fact. In fact, it makes me shiver with disgust and disdain. I am not an advocate for the death penalty by any means. I believe that all murder is wrong. Whether you consider it "just" or not. I am also ashamed that a man born in Connecticut claims to be a Texan and brings shame and degradation to the Oval Office, but then again who hasn't?
But I am not here to talk about how much I despise the current president or how I feel the death penalty is immoral and should be abolished. I want to touch on an issue that I read about: the European Union has involved itself in Texas politics.
As reported by the BBC, the EU called on Rick Perry, governor of Texas, to get rid of the death penalty.
"The European Union strongly urges Governor Rick Perry to exercise all powers vested in his office to halt all upcoming executions and to consider the introduction of a moratorium in the state of Texas."
Seriously? This must be a joke. Does the EU not have more important things to worry about on their side of the world? Apparently not.
The statement continued: "There is no evidence to suggest that the use of the death penalty serves as a deterrent against violent crime and the irreversibility of the punishment means that miscarriages of justice, which are inevitable in all legal systems, cannot be redressed."
While I agree with this statement 100 percent, it still baffles me that the EU would worry about what's going on in Texas when it has plenty of other issues to address. Were there not riots in Europe last summer because minority groups feel disenfranchised? Has Turkey not evolved enough to be included in the club, or is it because they are brown that Europe won't let them in? Stop being such backwoods bigots and let Turkey in. What's that you say? Why is a Texan involving himself in our business? My point exactly.
Are there not countries in Europe that have troops in Iraq and Afghanistan fighting an unjust and unnecessary war to occupy the Middle East? You want to influence policy. Break away from the United States and pull your troops out of the quagmire. If the U.S. loses the support of its allies, it might force the U.S. to re-evaluate the whole situation.
The list can go on and on. My point is that the EU has much more on its plate than to involve itself with Texas legislation.
The governor responded to the EU's bold and ballsy suggestion in true Texas form. Actually, his spokesman Robert Black responded by saying: "Two hundred and thirty years ago, our forefathers fought a war to throw off the yoke of a European monarch and gain the freedom of self-determination. Texans long ago decided the death penalty is a just and appropriate punishment for the most horrible crimes against our citizens. While we respect our friends in Europe...Texans are doing just fine governing Texas."
Or more simply put, piss off and mind your own damn business.
I hate to quote Scripture, but it seems relevant in this case, so here it goes. "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye." That's from Luke 6:42.
Don't Mess With Texas!
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