I was screaming at the radio
Jun. 24th, 2002 09:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
semperfionaNPR ran a story this morning about Justice Scalia and his support for the death penalty. It began by saying he had vehemently dissented from the recent decision that declared it unconstitutional to execute the mentally retarded, and went on to cover a speech he made at the University of Chicago recently. Listen here if you want to scream at your computer.
He made many insulting comments, references to incorrect history, and was very self-righteous and full of himself. He claimed that judges who believe the death penalty is immoral must resign from the justice system. He claimed that the only reason the death penalty has been abolished in Europe is that Europe is "post-christian"; that it remains popular here in the "church-going United States" because "to a believing christian death is no big deal". Oh, and he said the death penalty can't possibly be cruel and unusual punishment because it existed when the constitution was written. Yes, and torture existed then (and still does) but that doesn't make it right!
My fingers are spontaneously cramping into fists. I'm fighting the urge to scream even now just thinking about it. I really was screaming back at the radio. Unfortunately I was so angry all I could do was call him a bastard and an asshole--not exactly reasoned or intelligent discourse.
He made many insulting comments, references to incorrect history, and was very self-righteous and full of himself. He claimed that judges who believe the death penalty is immoral must resign from the justice system. He claimed that the only reason the death penalty has been abolished in Europe is that Europe is "post-christian"; that it remains popular here in the "church-going United States" because "to a believing christian death is no big deal". Oh, and he said the death penalty can't possibly be cruel and unusual punishment because it existed when the constitution was written. Yes, and torture existed then (and still does) but that doesn't make it right!
My fingers are spontaneously cramping into fists. I'm fighting the urge to scream even now just thinking about it. I really was screaming back at the radio. Unfortunately I was so angry all I could do was call him a bastard and an asshole--not exactly reasoned or intelligent discourse.
