(Via Pajamas Media)
Let's take a look at two men who are often (wrongly) compared to Nelson Mandela, who is himself a poor comparison to the mythical Nelson Mandela many people have in their minds...
Tookie Williams has killed and trained others to kill. However, he has realized the error of his ways and is not proud of his past. In fact, he's ashamed of it, and he is publishing book after book calling for nonviolent conflict resolution.
He is sentenced to die, and it is unlikely that his sentence will be changed. If he were granted clemency, he would spend the rest of his life behind bars, but continuing to work towards conflict resolution and uproot the seeds of violence he once planted.
Marwan Barghouti has killed, is proud to have killed, and trained others to kill. He continues to be a part of the planning of murders and he keeps calling for killing in the form of "legitimate resistance."
He is not sentenced to die, and it is likely that he will be released in some sort of prisoners-for-empty-promises deal with the Palestinians. Once released, he will adopt an Arafat-like smokescreen of public denouncements of terror acts but continue to praise, promote, and sponsor terrorism against Israelis.
In what kind of world does Williams die and Barghouti continue to live?
Comments (5)
Congratulation, You've made the best argument for clemency I've read anywhere on the internet. That being said Tookie is still an unrepentent murderer (he's never admitted his crime nor apologized to the victime's families). Can we split the difference and kill both of them?
Posted by Shtetl G | December 1, 2005 11:29 AM
Posted on December 1, 2005 11:29
To be fair, Williams has always maintained his innocence, so to "admit his crime or apologize to the victim's families" would be at odds with this position. As much as I might believe he's guilty, I have to agree with you, Laurence.
Posted by Mariann | December 1, 2005 7:42 PM
Posted on December 1, 2005 19:42
If he is innocent he should be set free. If he is guilty of quadruple homocide, a crime for which he was convicted and has lost numerous appeals, he is an unrepentent murderer. Unrepentent mass murderers should die. I'm sorry that Israel is "enlightened" and has decided to not execute Barghouti but that fact is not enough justification for me for clemency for Tookie. I guess I'm a real softy that way. I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Posted by Shtetl G | December 1, 2005 9:20 PM
Posted on December 1, 2005 21:20
Tookie can go free when he resurrects the four people he killed.
If he can't do that, the least he can do is join them.
Posted by Tatterdemalian | December 2, 2005 9:57 AM
Posted on December 2, 2005 09:57
I don't think he will be joining them, unless they are in Hell.
Posted by Laurence Simon | December 4, 2005 10:30 AM
Posted on December 4, 2005 10:30