Lecture puts `human face' on death penalty
By MYRA McGRIFF
News Writer
During Wednesday's lecture entitled "The Human Face of the Death Penalty," speaker John Krull, executive director of Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ICLU) urged people to focus on the "front of life" rather than enforcing the death penalty.
"It is a complex problem but if we start young nurturing human life in all situations we can combat the problem," said Krull.
The problem the death penalty poses for Krull and the ICLU falls on the expendability of life. They see putting people to death as underscoring the human condition. The more we assist and participate in the killing of other individuals the more devalued life becomes.
To expand on his point further, Krull recalled the attitude of a prison guard assisting in an execution.
"He said it was just a job and that he hoped it was over with soon because he had a school event to take his son to in the morning," said Krull.
The attitude that death as an injustice to all involved makes Krull and other opposing activists push forth the idea of respecting life instead of destroying it.
Krull discusses how many of the people put to death for crimes have spent their lives being ignored or were placed in violent situations. Ultimately this reasoning suggests that the situations criminals existed in led them to their respective demises.
"They did not get there by themselves — that's the responsibility we have to take to combat the death penalty. We have to nurture life," said Krull.
Activists want to combat the problem of apathy toward others by nurturing life. Krull suggests pursuing these goals through active participation. Krull said that not only do we need to work for proactive schooling, but we also need to be a political participant as well.
"We need to organize ourselves politically and get the vote out there," said Krull.
Within the discussion for change Krull outlined progress made in opening political dialogue. Krull mentioned change outside Illinois call for a moratorium on the death penalty.
"In an election year, having a governor bring up the death penalty for discussion shows progress," said Krull.
Members of the audience expressed confusion on how to effectively see change. In response Krull gave credit to power in little numbers.
"What students discovered at Northwestern opened up the door for the death penalty discussion throughout the country," said Krull.
Active student participation to free a wrongly convicted man from death row supports Krull's proposition to take an invested interest in the lives of others. Krull believes that as we become more involved, visible change is likely to occur.
Along the same lines, Krull does not fantasize about the realty of the situation. Krull sees the death penalty as a large topic with many sides.
"It is going to be a long struggle, taking at least the next decade to overturn the issues if not longer," said Krull.
All News Stories for Thursday, November 2, 2000
