When Kenyans, and indeed the world, was busy with
their daily chores, someone was busy “executing” a thought-of erratic man in
the US. One alleged wrong was being settled by a certain wrong. It’s unbelievable
such things do happen in a progressive-or so they say-world, where someone
perceived to have killed is treated likewise, that is, killed too.
Two wrongs indeed can never make a right. Instead
the second exacerbates the kicker and a string of wrongs would undoubtedly follow until the
right thing is done.
Troy Davis was convicted of murder in the
state of Georgia for murder in 1989 and subsequently put on the death row. He is
said to have killed an off-duty policemen. Yesterday, after several attempts to
abstain and thousands of calls for clemency, he was finally murdered through
lethal injection.
The guy is dead and if those who subjected
him to the killer injection thought they were supplying justice they must have realised
that they mistakenly shifted to the wrong gear if the number of clemency calls and the
enormity of the protestations against it are to be considered. Former US
president Jimmy Carter was among the many who asked for mercy. The respected Nobel
laureate, Desmond Tutu also requested for pardon. Nobody heard them and the
law, made by man for another man, “snuffed” one more life and will certainly consume
another soon.
The US, the self-proclaimed super-power of
the nations, killed with one hand whereas the other hand pointed at other
nations for “violating (simple human rights) such as freedom of expression, respect
of the ballot and observing democracy.” They are good at these that’s why there
are knocking other countries’ heads with the sole intention of enforcing their ideologies
on them. However, when it comes to such other super rights as rights to life (like
what the Kenyan constitution indicates), the country care less and kill with
reasonable doubt.
Reactions to Troy Davis induced death has
been phenomenal and as it point out the depth of racial feelings in the
developed federal country, it brings out the great distance between the common
man and the custodians of law.
Here are some of the responses to the death
as reported by the New York Times:
“He's
a black man. 100 percent certainty of guilt does not matter to the whites who
run the system. Being black is reason enough to be put to the death in their
eyes” posted one disgusted individual in reference to the decision.
“Once
again America shows it has a cruel and barbaric side, putting us in the same
category as China and Iran. This mocks America's promise as a country of
decency and laws,” said another.
Another was so overwhelmed with ignominy: “Shame on Georgia. Shame on the USA. This
is one of those extremely rare days when I am embarrassed to be an American.”
These
reactions capture the excruciating pain one feels when an imperfect man seeks to settle
another’s imperfections by condemning them to the grave. It’s unfair but that’s
the law.
Moral Lesson: Judgeth now you filthy man. You're not God. Just forgive.That's how simple it's.
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