The Mystery Of Executions

Karla Faye Tucker drew worldwide attention to her execution and as some say actually put a face on the death penalty. She was a rather attractive brunette with a beautiful smile and a way that she spoke that would grab your attention. Mrs. Buoneano was simply a woman with a average face who at first glance would turn most people away, just by her looks. The question through all of this is "Why did Karla Faye Tucker receive the attention that she did, and furthermore why did Judias Goodyear Buoneano receive very little attention"? Both cases were gruesome and bizarre. Both cases were women who murdered. It is true that Ms. Tucker was a repentant soul who actually said she was sorry for her crime. She also professed to be a born again christian. Irregardless of all that still the question remains as to why one person would draw so much fanfare and yet another person would receive very little. According to the media approximately 33 satellite trucks converged on Texas for the execution of Ms. Tucker. According to media approximately 4 satellite trucks converged on Florida for the execution of Mrs. Buoneano. It was reported that there was well over a thousand people outside the prison unit where Ms. Tucker was executed. However just a small group of people appeared in Florida for Mrs. Buoneano execution.

Women on death row are by far indeed a minority. Statistics show that women do stand a better chance of not being convicted and sentenced to death than men. Furthermore statistics do show that women also are not executed as frequently as men. As a whole, women are generally protected by our society in several different ways. However with the executions of two women just in a sixty day time period those things may change. There are many women on death row in the United States that have executions awaiting them. Some have had dates set for executions which were eventually stayed by the court systems. But nevertheless eventually they too will be executed. When you look at the bizarreness of the cases and the circumstances of the crimes committed, you tend to wonder why our society tends to protect the women. Is it because they are the child bearers of our world? Or is it that we are sympathetic to them? The women say they want equal rights. They do not want to be treated differently from men. However they do tend to appreciate the treatments they do receive.

In the light of their crimes however women and men are presented the same way, the gender issue is no more. They are simply part of the criminal element. The way our system is now the criminal element which is not desirable is executed. The odd part about all of that is the fact that we kill to say that killing is wrong. It does not make sense. People tend to imitate one another. We learn by other peoples actions. When we execute in the name of justice, we are simply saying to our children this "If you don't like them, kill them." You might say to yourself that my words are harsh but consider the fact that just recently in Jonesboro, Arkansas two young boys ages eleven and thirteen donned combat uniforms, armed themselves with weapons and proceeded to a school where they pulled a fire alarm and then opened up on the children and teachers as they filed out of the school in response to the false alarm. Where did these children learn this. From many sources. Some would say by watching other peoples actions. Still more would say that they learned this from television and the violence that is portrayed there. Still others would say that they learned this from the theaters. Still others would say it was because of their upbringing or their circumstances of how they were raised. The fact is that both of the two young boys referred to came from good solid homes in a average setting in our society. The families had no history of problems other than minor childhood difficulties. Irregardless of where they learned it, the fact is that our children are becoming increasingly violent as time goes on. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Remember, we learn by examples set by others.

Executions for the most part are mundane to say the least inside of the prison. However outside the prison that is not always the case. In the past there have been times where citizens would gather around and rejoice to hear and know that someone was executed for their crime. These same citizens condemn a murderer for killing, however they applaud when the state kills for them. Many will say that it is the duty of the state to execute the murderers. However are they not in fact using the state to satisfy their own lust and desires to kill. We must end this practice before our society is completely consumed in the violence which is continuing to build. The government says that crime is at a all time low now. However if you look around you will see that really nothing has changed, except that crime has grown worse over the years. Each day someone is murdered, almost daily someone is executed. The value of human life is diminishing before our very eyes.

Considering all of the facts here can we as human beings continue this barbaric practice of executions? How much longer will our society last if we continue to teach kill to show that killing is wrong? It is time to end the foolishness of the death penalty and to focus on rehabilitation and alternative punishment. This cycle can be broken if we as a society desire it. The question is this, Will we continue to allow ourselves to spiral downwards, or will we turn this around and rise upwards? We need to set a good example for our children and our children's children.