An interesting piece in the New York Times, a compilation of condemned prisoners' last words:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/opinion/20cameron.html

Bloody hell, Roger, why did you post that? I was having a good day.

Have to agree that, personally, I find this a bit sick, Rog. To find, under the heading 'Inspiration and Ideas', something which intrudes into the final moments of the victims of an oppressive, cruel and indefensible manifestation of state violence....

Sorry. Just, as I say, a personal view.

Rosy x



<Added>

Sorry - that came over all moralistic and pompous. But, y'know. Bad taste in the mouth 'n' stuff.

Okay, well, I thought it was very powerful and affecting. And important.

I apologise.

Report the thread and get it taken down. Actually, I'll do it myself.

Report the thread and get it taken down. Actually, I'll do it myself.

No, please leave it up. People don't need to read it if they don't want to.

SG

No, no. Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean that. It's just me being pathetic and squeamish. I'm sure lots of people would find it interesting.

Sorry. Wish I hadn't said it now.

R x

Maybe you could ask Admin to move it to the Lounge, Roger?
I thought the list was interesting and, in places, amusing - it just goes to show the IQ of some of the people on Death Row if their last words are along the lines of 'Is the mike on?'


- NaomiM

I thought it revealed the humanity of the prisoners.

Anyhow, I would rather it was taken down completely. I made a serious error of judgement which I regret. It was not my intention to offend or upset anyone.

I don't see why it would be more appropriate in the lounge. If anything that trivialises the material.

Take it down if you want, but I think this is exactly the kind of thing that we, as writers, should be looking for and reading. These are the dark and uncomfortable and horrific corners of human life where we ought to be looking and from which we should be learning. There is nothing sick about posting this.

this is exactly the kind of thing that we, as writers, should be looking for and reading

I absolutely agree. Not least because I would be willing to bet that a good proportion of us have at some point either had to write or toyed with the idea of writing a character in a similar position.

And in any case, however reprehensible or otherwise the idea of the death penalty over other forms of punishment, is there not something quite inspiring and noble in the following?

I have come here today to die, not make speeches.

Please don't take it down, Roger. I feel such a prat now.



R xx

I found this interesting on a number of levels.
One, I'm quite a macabre person anyway.
But two, on a socio political front, I think the comments are very telling.
HB x

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Rosy - you could never be a prat.

You're not a prat, Rosy. That's why I was horrified by your and Jem's response. It can stay, I suppose, though it might disappear as I have already put in the request. It doesn't have to be on here.

Oh, but I know perfectly well I do have a tendency to ludicrously unrealistic and pompous moralism. Which some people less nice than you might well call being a prat. Ignore me, really.

R x

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'Twas just a knee jerk reaction to any mention of death row. But as Leila says, it does exist, ignoring it won't make it go away. There's a difference between prurience and just facing up to unpleasant truths and learning from them.

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And I think it was only me, anyway. I don't think Jem was saying it shouldn't be here (Jem?), only that it made her feel uncomfortable. Which was, of cousre, the whole point.

Oh God that is so sad - and important.

Maybe one day when there is no more death row...

These things happen - we can't shut our eyes.

There are stories in those words and the voices should be heard.