Some people just aren't human beings

Since learning earlier this afternoon that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would not be granting clemency to Stanley “Tookie” Williams, I’ve been trying to pretend that I’m not happy about the decision. There’s a part of me that says that satisfaction should never be derived from the death of a human being, but another part of me seems to be of the — albeit rather callous — opinion that some people just deserve to die.

To say that the execution of Tookie Williams constitutes the death of a human being is, in my opinion, a bit of an overstatement. As far as I’m concerned, when you murder four people in cold blood, you’ve relinquished your reservation at the “human being” table and have taken your rightful place somewhere between a stubborn foot fungus and the fluid that collects in your mouth right before you vomit.

Not only has Tookie Williams been convicted of murdering four people in cold blood —which he later bragged about — he is also indirectly responsible for countless other deaths perpetuated through his founding of the notorious street gang the Crips.

Supporters of Tookie Wilson claim that he has changed his ways while in prison and has actually become an anti-gang activist from behind bars. Right. “But he’s even written children’s books against gang violence!” they say. This is correct. Only problem is, no one has read them. His first book sold in the neighborhood of 300 copies. Not to brag, but I’m pretty sure I could write a book of Haiku that would sell better. His second book sold — and I’m not making this up — two copies. Two. As in, the letters in the word “two” are more plentiful than the copies of books sold. Not exactly New York Times Best-selling material.

If Tookie Williams was truly the anti-gang activist people make him out to be, he would debrief the proper authorities with all he knows about the Crips so as to assist the authorities in preventing further gang violence. Needless to say, he has not done this. In fact, he’s claimed that he will take such information to his grave. It’s rather convenient really, since he’ll be there in just under 10 hours.

Contrary to what people might expect of me, I’m not the biggest fan of the death penalty. Don’t get me wrong — I’m a big fan of the idea behind the death penalty. Maybe it’s the whole believing-in-the-Old-Testament thing, but I’m all for Eye for an Eye. I firmly believe that if you maliciously take someone’s life, you have surrendered your own right to live. What I am not a fan of, however, is the process of the current death penalty.

The crimes Tookie Williams is convicted of took place some 26 years ago. That’s 26 years more than any of his four victims or their families enjoyed. I simply have a difficult time convincing myself that this is justice.

What irks me most about the whole thing is that Tookie’s supporters (at least the sane ones) are not arguing for his release, simply that he be given life in prison instead. There is no major disagreement that Williams committed these crimes, but yet there is disagreement in whether or not he should serve the sentence he was handed. On what grounds? [Chirp, chirp, chirp]

I’ve never really bought the argument that all human lives are equal. Now, before you get out the torches and pitchforks, let me explain. I firmly believe that all human beings are created equal, as our Founding Fathers so poetically expressed. That is to say, each baby is born on an even plane. What happens after that, however, determines the true worth of a person’s life.

You’re going to have a hard time convincing me that Adolph Hitler’s life is worth just as much as Ghandi’s. That said, I do believe that in the grand scheme of things, most people are roughly the same. But as I said before, I believe that some people just deserve to die. Their contribution to society has been so negative that they no longer deserve to enjoy it at any level. It just so happens that Tookie Williams is one such person. Does this make me a horrible person? I can’t tell.