This week I had the opportunity to watch Werner Herzog’s
documentary, “Into the abyss”. Let me give a brief outline of its plot for the
benefit of those who have not had the opportunity to watch it.
The documentary is in actual sense a set of interviews
revolving around a triple homicide case in a small town in Texas, USA. Herzog
gets to talk to most of the belligerents in the saga involving the killing of
Sandra Stotler, Adam Stotler and Jeremy Richardson. He interviews the two
convicted murderers; Michael Perry and Jason Burkett, Lisa Stotler, who was a
daughter to one victim, and a sister to another. He also had a talk with Jeremy
Richardson’s elder brother. Others interviewed include a death house chaplain and other associates of the victims and convicts.
At the time of
filming, Michael Perry is on death row with eight days to execution, while his
accomplice, Jason Burkett was serving a life sentence, with a possibility of
parole after forty years served.
Altogether, it was a beautifully done piece of work. Herzog
was objective in his approach without compromising the raw emotional feel that
such a story would have. He however lets slip of what I believe to be the
central of the documentary: He expresses his
disapproval of the death penalty.
Let me paint a picture. Here is a family that has had several
deaths in the previous six years. The burden of grief is heavy as it is. Then
comes one night of pure madness. Two young men, intent on stealing the Stotlers’ Chevrolet Camaro indulge themselves in an orgy of violence that leaves a mother and
her son dead. The son’s friend’s life is also taken as collateral damage. There
is unfathomable devastation. They do not deserve die. No human being has the
right to revoke another's license to live.
Regardless of which course justice takes, they cannot be
brought back to life. Telling the bereaved that it-will-hurt-now-but-get-better-with-time
is hardly any consolation. Surely, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth and
yes, a life for a life, would be a fitting recompense for live taken, would it
not?
After all in the major civilizations of ancient time such as
Egyptian, Roman and Hebrew, was the penalty for murder not death.is it not
clearly spelt out in the old testament of the Christian bible for good measure?
If that is the correct position, did Michael Perry not warrant his date with
the executioner? But wait!
What purpose does a nation’s correctional system seek to serve?
Is it not meant to rehabilitate errant members of the society? Are convicts
therefore not supposed to be presented with an opportunity to carry out some
self-evaluation, realize the extent of their wrongdoing, be remorseful about
it, and hence be fit for readmission into society? Even better, should they not
therefore serve as a living example
of what a life of crime can lead to?
After all, as I mentioned earlier, when it comes down it, no
human being has the right to decide when another’s time is up, even for
punitive purposes! Surely, with that in mind, no matter what belief system you
subscribe to, is it not wrong to not only hand down, but ultimately dispense a
death sentence, with no regrets at all?
The debate on this issue will always be there as long as man
exists. Therefore, the question is, what is your conviction?
No comments:
Post a Comment