| Yesterday was the day that Timothy McVeigh
was scheduled to be executed for his role in the bombing of the Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City. That sentence was not carried out, though,
because of files that were recently discovered by the FBI which do not
appear to have been made available to McVeigh's defense team. As I write
this, no final decision has been made as to whether McVeigh, who has admitted
his guilt and refused to pursue previous avenues of appeal, will seek a
new trial.
Some have said that the delay is not in the interests
of justice, that it merely extends the life of a man who brutally cut short
the lives of so many. However, I would disagree.
For the last 40 years, we have been haunted by the
spectre of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and part of the reason
is that there are many who suspect a government cover-up, if not government
involvement. All you have to say is, "grassy knoll", and people know you
aren't talking about landscaping.
Since the bombing was a product of this government
conspiracy mindset, it is in the best interests of everyone to do whatever
it takes to ensure that what McVeigh receives is no more than the justice
he is due. Missing files turning up at the last moment raise questions
even among those who do not generally subscribe to conspiracy theories.
If we want to persuade those who find the government untrustworthy that
this conviction and sentence can be trusted, those questions must be fully
answered beyond any reasonable doubt.
Democracy does not work if the citizenry do not trust
their elected leaders. It's true that a delay may merely put off the execution
of a sentence that will still be ultimately carried out at a later date.
The additional investigation may take a great deal of time and money that
could be spent elsewhere. Given the ramifications for our nation, though,
which go well beyond this case, it's time and money that would be well
spent.
One Man Watching
Extra
Last Sunday was Mother's Day. It is a good thing
to have a day to honor mothers, because it is unlike any other job that
a person can have.
There is probably no job which has so many
demands. If a woman is a stay-at-home mom, she is expected to be a cook,
a maid, a teacher, a nurse, a counselor, an administrator, a drill sergeant,
and a chauffeur. If a woman is in the workforce, these jobs have to be
delegated, but the mother is still usually the one responsible for making
sure they get done.
There is no job for which there is so little training.
You can't even get a driver's license without having somebody ride with
you to give you direction each step of the way until you learn well enough
to solo. You aren't given the keys, told to go take a drive, and then come
back and ask questions, but that is what mothers are expected to do.
There is also no job which is more taken for granted.
Skinned knee? Mom'll take care of it. Problems at school? Mom'll go talk
to the teacher. Need new clothes? Mom'll take you to the mall. We expect
all this. If she doesn't do any part of it, we ask why not, but when she
does do it all, how often does she hear even a simple "Thanks"?
However, there is also no job which has the potential
to be so rewarding. When Suzie gets her merit badge, when Johnny makes
the basketball team, when Mike is handed his diploma, when Julie is walked
down the aisle. No CEO gets that kind of feeling, no matter how good the
bottom line looks.
If you didn't do it Sunday, then there's no time
like the present to let her know that you appreciate what she did. Even
if she was no June Cleaver, even if she came up short in areas, the fact
that she tried and did the best she knew how to do is something to be grateful
for.
And to my own mom, for all you did and all you tried
to do, "Thanks!" |
