Life in prison ain't what it used to be, I guess.

Ahh, if only there were more issues of Flyer News for me to pollute with my thoughts.

Take this Zacarias Moussaoui, the "twentieth hijacker" of September 11 who was given life in prison for helping plan the terrorist attacks.

On BBC News there is a poll and comment section for this story. And I am disgusted by how many people, many from the U.S., say the sentence is not hard enough. Moussaoui should be executed, they say.

Maybe they don't understand "life in prison." Life. In prison. Now, I'd never claim life outside of prison is exactly wonderful, but life in prison is probably even less so. Moussaoui will spend thirty or forty years wandering around, praying and lifting weights, and then he will die.

I guess that's just not enough for some people. They really want him to be executed, even if it takes several tries.

People! We're still executing here? What the fuck?

I know, I know. People will say "justice must be served." Their petty, vengeful, spiteful, pathetic concept of justice must be served by us slaves of justice.

Listen: I'm tired of hearing about justice. Justice has had its chance, and it just doesn't exist. Certainly not in the legal sense. The big secret is: I don't think we should be servants of justice. It's too subjective, mean-spirited, and slanted against the poor and minorities.

I recommend mercy instead. It has the backing of every major religion. It will never lead us to kill someone, guilty or innocent. Speaking practically, it would be a relief on our prison system. And it would promote tolerance, peace and unity.

I know some people speak of closure for the victims' families. That is fucked up.

This is dangerous territory. We're supposed to be polite, deferential, even in awe of victims' families, especially 9/11 families. But demanding the death of someone to make up for a previous death is petty and small-minded. I don't think it matters who you are. That's just a little crazy.

But whatever. I doubt we'll hear anything else about Moussaoui before he dies in jail.

In other news:

Only 15 days until I go to Chile. Shit, shit, shit.

Only about 2 days until I go back to Cuyahoga Falls. 3/4 done with undergrad. Ridiculous.

And I guess that's about it. I'm not sure I'll post again until the middle of the summer or so.

So, goodbye.

Love,

Steve