A Civilized Society?

Last week, the state of Utah executed a death row inmate by firing squad. I find it curious that a state known for its conservative Mormon religious ethos that emphasizes the sanctity of human life would be known for such a brutal method of execution. But then, many religious people support capital punishment. After all, does not the Bible say "An eye for an eye?" Folks love to quote that verse, forgetting, or ignoring the fact that Jesus quoted that verse and then followed it with "But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile." There you have it: a rule so contrary to our way of thinking that we choose to ignore it. Christian people continue to stand outside of prisons where executions are carried out and cheer the result. The most conservative Christian states, such as Texas, Virginia and Florida, are the states who carry out the greatest number of executions.
So, it begs the question: Why do we execute criminals who have killed others? Well, because it serves as a deterrent to repeat crimes, right? Wrong. There is no research to support the theory that capital punishment deters violent crime. Well then, the Bible commands us to do it, right? The scripture cited above shows the house of cards upon which that argument is built. Well then, why DO so many Americans support capital punishment? Well, fear, for one. The majority of persons on death row in America are African American. Most were unable to afford the kind of defense team that would have been more effective in offering an adequate defense. And for White America, people of color are the "other" and many people tend to be suspicious of those who appear to be strangers or outsiders. There is not space here to discuss the role of the outsider in the story of our faith, but I will give you a hint: in scripture, the "other" often turns out to be an agent of God's grace. But back to our question of why we take such delight in executing people. I have believed for many years that it comes down to one simple fact: it makes us feel better. We don't know what to do with people who commit horrible crimes, so we kill them. And somehow we look away from the fact that, in carrying out an execution, the state acts with the same premeditated coldness as that of the offenders whom it is putting to death. Why do you think there have been no live broadcast of an execution? Might it be because, if Americans actually viewed the horror of an execution, including the supposedly humane lethal injection method, they might just reject capital punishment as a solution to violent crime? Yes, we are a civilized society. And that is what frightens me the most.

On Being the Father of the Bride

Recently, I had the experience of walking my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. I don't think that any father has an idea beforehand of what that experience feels like. I was told that some folks had placed bets on when, exactly, I would lose it. As it turned out, I did not cry, which is saying something for a dad who has always teared up when talking about his daughter to others. In hindsight, I know why the tears really never fell in quantity: it was much too happy an occasion for such to happen. My daughter and her new husband have had a long courtship, and the love and friendship between them has been evident to anyone who has ever seen them together. And the ceremony was a service of Christian marriage, and I know how important my daughter's faith has always been to her. So, it was a day for joy, not tears. I have admitted to biting the insides of my cheeks during most of the ceremony, however. If you have not guessed as much by now, I did not perform the wedding. My daughter wanted me to be the father of the bride for the whole day, and it was indeed a privilege to be just that. When I look at the photos of my daughter in her wedding gown, I am struck by her radiance. She has always been beautiful and photogenic, so that is not a surprise. But there is a look in her eyes and in her smile that tells anyone who sees the photo that she is having the time of her life. Several times during the wedding and reception she commented on how unbelievably happy she was. The way in which she made the remark reminded me of a child who makes a new discovery in a meadow of flowers: the expression was one of joy and wonder. There is nothing else in all the world that I could wish for her on her wedding day that would exceed those emotions. I have often referred to the saying "God danced on the day that you were born" when speaking about my daughter. Now, I believe that God also enjoys a good wedding dance! Thanks be to the One who is eternal and whose love never ends, and who enables mothers and fathers and sons and daughters to share in a love that is unending.