Fairy tales won over science: a man must die today

[Cinjin]

That's my point shell. From our perspective there was more than a shadow of a doubt, but since the only information we can get is second, third or fourth hand we simply cannot know for sure.

Then committing an irrevocable act (of execution) should be intolerable to you, instead of postulating as to "Will we really know?".

It's not intolerable to me because those who do have ALL the first hand knowledge also have the responsibility. I cannot judge their decision any more than I can judge the decisions of jury's in thousands of cases across this country that I also have no knowledge of. Those who are involved directly have to answer to their own conscience just as I would were I to be directly involved with this particular case. I cannot find something intolerable for which I do not have all the facts. That would be an irrational emotion in my opinion. I have no choice but to assume that those responsible have done the best job the could do with what they have been given. I'm also not much into believing in the conspiracy that the judicial body of the entire Southern United States has it in for black people.

On an unrelated point: Me personally, I'd rather opt for the death penalty vs. a lifetime in prison. I just couldn't take it. Freedom is everything to me.

Unfortunately, granting the self determination to the presumed guilty to choose suicide or life in prison only opens up new avenues to potential illegal coercion and manipulation by unwatched, unpoliced entities (*cough cough*prison gaurds *cough cough*).

Furthermore, as life in prison is considered intolerable to you, and no doubt others, were you to be mistakenly or illegally imprisoned by the state, your choice to commit suicide is a Sophie's choice and once again, protected against.

This is why offering suicide in prison as an alternative to life imprisonment is unethical and illegal.

Valid points yes. Still doesn't change the heart of a man who loves his own freedom. I'll choose death every time over a lifetime of an 8x10 cell.