Post by tulla63 on May 14, 2005 16:46:17 GMT -5
Hi,
Some of you might know that I'm a great admirerer of Bud Welch. I found an article he wrote at:
collegian.kenyon.edu/article.php?id=1520
I wish to see some discussion on whether or not executions bring closure. I do not hope some will simply brush me off by saying: "Well - easy for you to talk! None of yours were murdered", and they would be right. What I want though, is to know more about what can be done for the murder victim's families, because if I try to imagine what could possibly bring closure to me if either one of my daughters or my husband were murdered - the only answer I have is NOTHING.
What is it that can be done for a family who lost a loved one? Is the society willing to help with whatever that family need? What about support - like emotional support, economic support, and did anyone actually ask these families what they need?
I don't think anything could bring closure, although I hear many say that forgiveness brings closure. Actually - and this is my personal feeling - I don't think anything could comfort me at all. Let alone to see another one killed. I just CANNOT understand what an execution could do with regards to the grief I would be going through.
I am NOT speaking about justice. I would of course - without a doubt - demand that justice would be done and that the murderers would be off the streets, but I simply can't see the "closure- aspect" with an execution......Those of you who might have another opinion, please share! Also, if an execution does not help bringing closure, why not rather put him / her away for life?
=====================
Bud Welch to speak
by Isankya Kodithuwakku
Features Editor
Thursday, April 24, 2003
"Bud Welch was a farmer and service station owner when his daughter Julie was lost in the Oklahoma City bombing. He is now an anti-death penalty activist," read the posters that advertise the speaker being brought in by Amnesty International. Welch will be presenting a lecture entitled "Rage to Reconciliation."
"Welch is part of an organization called Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation (MVFR)—family members of people who have been murdered who continue to be against the death penalty," said sophomore Claudia Masko, a co-facilitator of Amnesty International (A.I.), which is the organization bringing Welch to the College. "A.I. is against the death penalty in all cases, seeing it as a violation of basic human rights," she said.
Welch says he speaks out against the death penalty because of two people, his daughter and his grandfather. Welch's grandfather arrived in Oklahoma in 1892 and was very much against capital punishment. "He had personal memories of executions without trial tolerated by corrupt sheriffs and lynchings of innocent people by rivals who wanted their land," said Welch.
His daughter Julie was a 23 year-old employee of the Social Security Administration when she was killed in the bombing of the federal building. After she was killed, Welch decided to speak out publicly against capital punishment. "It's my way of honoring her memory. Many members of the families of the bombing victims think like me," he said. "They tell me so, but refuse to repeat it in public. They're afraid of not being understood. I am their voice."
Welch has given talks and written numerous articles concerning the execution of Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted of the bombing in Oklahoma City. He has defended the position that the McVeigh's execution would never bring back any of the people he killed, but he did not always feel this way. When he first heard about Mc Veigh's capturre, he said his reaction was, "I didn't even want a trial. I just wanted him fried.
"But after a time," he continued, "I was able to examine my conscience and I realized that if McVeigh is put to death, it won't help me in the healing process. People talk about executions bringing closure. But how can there be closure when my little girl is never coming back? I finally realized that the death penalty is all about revenge and hate, and revenge and hate are why Julie Marie and 167 others are dead."
"Welch will bring an interesting perspective," Masko said "because he has suffered through the death of his daughter, Julie, in the Oklahoma City bombing, yet he still does not believe in the death penalty."
Welch said that the execution of McVeigh was an assisted suicide and makes him a martyr to those who share his beliefs. He believes that this execution will lead to his supporters trying to avenge him. "We should ask ourselves: How much killing and how much revenge are we prepared to live through?" he wrote on the website consistentlife.org.
Just two years after the bombing, Welch went to meet Bill McVeigh, Timothy McVeigh's father. The two men have since become good friends.
Welch believes that the abolition of the death penalty is another step in social change in America. "We moved from abolishing slavery to granting women the right to vote to passing civil rights laws," Welch wrote. "We finally made these necessary social changes, and we must take the next step with the death penalty."
=================
Love,
Turid
Some of you might know that I'm a great admirerer of Bud Welch. I found an article he wrote at:
collegian.kenyon.edu/article.php?id=1520
I wish to see some discussion on whether or not executions bring closure. I do not hope some will simply brush me off by saying: "Well - easy for you to talk! None of yours were murdered", and they would be right. What I want though, is to know more about what can be done for the murder victim's families, because if I try to imagine what could possibly bring closure to me if either one of my daughters or my husband were murdered - the only answer I have is NOTHING.
What is it that can be done for a family who lost a loved one? Is the society willing to help with whatever that family need? What about support - like emotional support, economic support, and did anyone actually ask these families what they need?
I don't think anything could bring closure, although I hear many say that forgiveness brings closure. Actually - and this is my personal feeling - I don't think anything could comfort me at all. Let alone to see another one killed. I just CANNOT understand what an execution could do with regards to the grief I would be going through.
I am NOT speaking about justice. I would of course - without a doubt - demand that justice would be done and that the murderers would be off the streets, but I simply can't see the "closure- aspect" with an execution......Those of you who might have another opinion, please share! Also, if an execution does not help bringing closure, why not rather put him / her away for life?
=====================
Bud Welch to speak
by Isankya Kodithuwakku
Features Editor
Thursday, April 24, 2003
"Bud Welch was a farmer and service station owner when his daughter Julie was lost in the Oklahoma City bombing. He is now an anti-death penalty activist," read the posters that advertise the speaker being brought in by Amnesty International. Welch will be presenting a lecture entitled "Rage to Reconciliation."
"Welch is part of an organization called Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation (MVFR)—family members of people who have been murdered who continue to be against the death penalty," said sophomore Claudia Masko, a co-facilitator of Amnesty International (A.I.), which is the organization bringing Welch to the College. "A.I. is against the death penalty in all cases, seeing it as a violation of basic human rights," she said.
Welch says he speaks out against the death penalty because of two people, his daughter and his grandfather. Welch's grandfather arrived in Oklahoma in 1892 and was very much against capital punishment. "He had personal memories of executions without trial tolerated by corrupt sheriffs and lynchings of innocent people by rivals who wanted their land," said Welch.
His daughter Julie was a 23 year-old employee of the Social Security Administration when she was killed in the bombing of the federal building. After she was killed, Welch decided to speak out publicly against capital punishment. "It's my way of honoring her memory. Many members of the families of the bombing victims think like me," he said. "They tell me so, but refuse to repeat it in public. They're afraid of not being understood. I am their voice."
Welch has given talks and written numerous articles concerning the execution of Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted of the bombing in Oklahoma City. He has defended the position that the McVeigh's execution would never bring back any of the people he killed, but he did not always feel this way. When he first heard about Mc Veigh's capturre, he said his reaction was, "I didn't even want a trial. I just wanted him fried.
"But after a time," he continued, "I was able to examine my conscience and I realized that if McVeigh is put to death, it won't help me in the healing process. People talk about executions bringing closure. But how can there be closure when my little girl is never coming back? I finally realized that the death penalty is all about revenge and hate, and revenge and hate are why Julie Marie and 167 others are dead."
"Welch will bring an interesting perspective," Masko said "because he has suffered through the death of his daughter, Julie, in the Oklahoma City bombing, yet he still does not believe in the death penalty."
Welch said that the execution of McVeigh was an assisted suicide and makes him a martyr to those who share his beliefs. He believes that this execution will lead to his supporters trying to avenge him. "We should ask ourselves: How much killing and how much revenge are we prepared to live through?" he wrote on the website consistentlife.org.
Just two years after the bombing, Welch went to meet Bill McVeigh, Timothy McVeigh's father. The two men have since become good friends.
Welch believes that the abolition of the death penalty is another step in social change in America. "We moved from abolishing slavery to granting women the right to vote to passing civil rights laws," Welch wrote. "We finally made these necessary social changes, and we must take the next step with the death penalty."
=================
Love,
Turid