Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A First
For me, the execution tonight of the DC Sniper tonight hits home in a way I have never before experienced. I am vehemently against the death penalty. But this time it feels so personal. And leaves me feeling conflicted. I lived in Virgina when this all took place. It wasn't a news story, it was daily life. I was a nanny at the time and I very much remember sitting with the mom at night to talk about where it might be safer to go get gas or take the kids. We all lived in fear. The attacks were so random and diverse and left everyone feeling so on edge. I think things like this are different when you live them rather than watching on the news. Just as when you have a soldier in your family or teacher or insert person. You are more sensitive when it interacts with your personal life. When it changes the way you go about your day. So while I am steadfast in my disagreement of the death penalty, I do feel an odd sense of relief that he is no longer ever able to terrorize our nation.
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8 comments:
I was a freshman in high school when this happened and it turned my world upside down. A woman was actually shot at the mall I shop at so it was right in my backyard. Homecoming was postponed, football season cancelled, we were always on lockdown at school. Seems like it was only yesterday.. I too was relieved to hear the news today.
I'm very much against violence and try to encourage pacifism, but in cases such as these I truly believe in an eye for an eye. In this particular case it will not result in the world being blnd. He has to accept responsibility for and atone for what he's done.
I didn't know about this situation, but I have had my beliefs and principles challenged when it actually hits my back yard! That's hard to swallow, but I'm glad you are relieved.
It is such a scary thing to have terror so close to home. I have mixed feelings about the death penalty but all that I can think of when it happens is how these victims had no say, they were just going about their daily life when terror struck. So, so sad.
Its such a hard call, but I try to put myself in the victims place and even though all violence seem senseless this one was more so.
I couldn't agree more. As an intern in DC at the time, I lived in fear. An intense fear that I hope to never experience again. Relief is the perfect word. It's over.
I agree, not with the death penalty overall, but in this case I was also a Virginian and scared to go anywhere. Our high school events were postponed, homecoming, everything until the ordeal was over. The amount of fear inflicted on so many people was profound and shook my sense of security to the core. Whether justice was carried out or not in every perspective, millions of Virginians feel the same way today.
I completely agree with you. I also wrote about how all of us lived in fear during those 3 weeks of sheer terror.
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