[Buddha-l] Re: Texas liberals (death penalty)

[StormyTet at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/30/2005 3:17:16 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
stefan.detrez at gmail.com writes:

When  this participation is corrupted by mental illness leading to murder, 
murderous  recidivism, mindless killing (not, for instance, the killing of a 
corrupt  tiran), or no prospect of succesful reintegration, than I'd say the 
death  penalty is a good option. It is, ironically, more human to kill that person 
 than to dope him/her up and stick him/her away in a mental institution for 
the  rest of that person's life. This is not about retribution, it's about 
making  useful use of the money that would otherwise go to 'keeping life sentenced 
 people alive (under strict conditions like: 'no prospect of succesful  
reintegration', 


Hi Stefan,
 
There is a man named Bo Lozof who in the 70's started sending books to  
prisoners (many on death row) about buddhist practice.  His first (i am  pretty 
sure) and most simply written book (full of cartoons) is basic techniques  on how 
to meditate. It is written for prisoners in light of their particular  
setting and culture. That book is "Were All Doing Time."  The Dali  Lama wrote a 
forward for it. The best part of the book, imo, is the letters in  the back of 
the book between Bo and the prisoners.  They are disturbing  and strangely 
hopeful -- the reality of our human condition, criminal  or not, shines through. Bo 
was a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba. 
 
I think the issue of the death penalty needs to be looked at in broader  
terms than you suggest.  Bo suggests to prisoners that they use their  'time' and 
their cells as an ashram. Your argument is based on finances and  
reintegration into society (and perhaps mercy killing). The problem with this is  that 
prisoners are a part of our society, largely ignored and largely unheard. I  
would suggest listening to them before you flip the switch. I am not advocating  a 
bleeding heart liberal position here. There are cold hearted people who don't 
 seem to ever 'get it',' but even when they talk I learn something about 
being  human.
       
 Killing the pariahs in our society doesn't work for me. I don't  want them 
loose to harm people but they are a reflection, in part, of the  ills in our 
society and they are carrying, as one friend put it to me, the pain  of our 
cancers in their individual souls in a way that society as a  whole needs to 
recognize as a mirror of our collective self.
 
Best,
Stormy
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