Death of a Murderer

A septuagenarian was killed today. Clarence Ray Allen was a "Native American" as they quaintly describe it for fear of offending the descendants of the original inhabitants of that country. There is no doubt he was guilty of murder and incitement to murder. He received the death penalty for ordering a hit man to kill the seven witnesses who testified at his previous murder trial. Apparently one witness was murdered and two innocent passers-by were also killed. In no way do I condone these acts. They are barbarous. They are unforgivable - mainly because human beings are not capable of truly forgiving the taking of a life (after all we are not deities). But, by the same token, neither are we morally able to take the decision to end his life. We as individuals are not gods. The State is not a god. Whether you believe in God (or a god) or not do you have the all-seeing, all-understanding wisdom to decide who should live and who should die?
Clarence Ray Allen was old, frail, blind and deaf when they wheeled him in his wheelchair into the death chamber. He had been on Death Row for more than 20 years and it is my sincere hope that during that time his conscience made him regret his awful deeds. I do not know the whole story of his horrific crimes so I cannot pass judgment on him. But I wonder how much of a threat he was to society by the time he was executed. Or was it just that retribution - or to put the word more bluntly revenge - needed to be seen to be taken? An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. A life for a life. Gandhi said words to the effect that and eye for an eye leaves both men blinded. Is anyone really satisfied with this outcome? Possibly the relatives of the innocent people who were killed feel a closing to the saga - I don't know. I just have a very uncomfortable feeling whenever I read of state executions. I can only speak for my own feelings so - just as I could not kill a man myself - I could not ask any person, or any state, to take a life in my name. In some states you can possibly think you don't understand the culture enough to comment on their actions. But in the "Land of the Free" whose motto is IN GOD WE TRUST, one wonders which God they are talking about. Do they not trust God enough to do what is necessary to this person? Is the state taking on the mantle of God? My feelings about executions in a "Christian" country are more than uncomfortable, they are downright sickening.
God bless America.
God Save America from itself.