This is addressed only to the serious thinkers on the echo.
   I'm sure you have noticed what a dilemma has been posed to many who either
oppose or support the death penalty.  I am wondering if there ever could be a
calm, rational, philosophical dialogue on the subject.  Here we now have the
embarrassing situation of a serial killer who deliberately sent bombs through
the mail intended to blow people away.  As of now, he evidently is NOT going
to a mental hospital for confinement there and is not going to suffer the
death penality but will receive imprisonment for life.  Given his penchant 
or
trying to commit suicide that could be a short period of time unless they're
careful.  
    At the same time we now have a woman in Texas convicted of a heinous 
rime
and admitting that she did it but asking for clemency because she has
undergone a conversion.  
    I'm not taking a position in either of these specific cases.  What I AM
doing is pointing to the interesting societal attitude that hesitates 
omewhat
to inflict the ultimate "punishment" of the finality of taking of life (which
cannot be reversed) but doesn't seem to care much that the murderer (please,
let's agree to drop the romantic term "Unabomber") who is male is to have HIS
life spared seemingly in deference to a justly bereaved family who love him
just as many candidates for the death penalty have loving families.
     My own personal opinion (FWIW) is that I am against the death penality
for many reasons, not the least of which is that it requires society to act
with finality in so many instances where we don't really know the guilt or
innocence but my attitude is not likely to have much weight one way or the
other in what happens in the various jurisdictions.  I doubt that anybody
would argue that this final penalty is evenly enforced.
    I don't think the ancients ever solved the problem.  There have been
numerous ways of approaching it such as "cities of refuge", "islands of
ostracism" and others.  
    One thing it has come NOT TO BE and that is swift justice according to
speedy trial and execution of penalties.  These cases normally drag through
years and years of judicial process, often depending on the financial
resources of the convicted felon.  
    Just thought I'd pose the question.  
    Serial killers will surely try to negotiate for a position similar to 
hat
of Kazinsky (sp?) in the future and who could blame them.  We still await the
decision in Texas but the bet that her execution will be stayed for any
length of time is not a good one.
Sincerely, 
                                     Frank
                                                                              
                                                       
--- PPoint 2.05
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