DEATH PENALTY ALTERNATIVES FOR ARIZONA
PINAL COUNTY CHAPTER
CASA GRANDE, AZ
Monday, March 18, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Val Vista RV Park Clubhouse
16680 W. Val Vista Blvd.
The Pinal County chapter of Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 18, at the clubhouse at Val Vista RV Park, 16680 W. Val Vista Blvd. For more information, call Joan Bundy at 480-721-3832, or email her at: joan@joanbundylaw.com. Or call Tony Fasline at 520-426-0070, or email him at: tfasline@aol.com.
The DPAA Facebook page is at:
facebook.com/pages/Death-Penalty-Alternatives-for-Arizona/178240200928.
PERSONAL:
Join me in a vow to use our blessings, skills, and talents to build a society in which governments do not kill for revenge, a society without poverty or war, and one in which everyone is able to enjoy at least the basic benefits of prosperity and peace.
Meanwhile, send out your positive thoughts and, for those who are believers, prayers for all the suffering souls all around the world!
Showing posts with label revenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label revenge. Show all posts
Monday, March 18, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Death Penalty Alternatives Meeting, Casa Grande, AZ:
DEATH PENALTY ALTERNATIVES FOR ARIZONA
PINAL COUNTY CHAPTER
CASA GRANDE, AZ
Monday, February 18, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Val Vista RV Park Clubhouse
16680 W. Val Vista Blvd.
The newly formed Pinal County chapter of Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona will meet at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month, beginning on Monday, February 18, at the clubhouse at Val Vista RV Park, 16680 W. Val Vista Blvd. For more information, go to:
facebook.com/pages/Death-Penalty-Alternatives-for-Arizona/178240200928
PERSONAL:
I must take this opportunity to share a few ideas I discussed in my essay collection, The World I Imagine: A creative manual for ending poverty and building peace. Chapter 10 consists of five essays detailing what it would be like if "True Justice" were practiced in our society, including applying alternatives to the death penalty. In the essay on "Ultimate Crimes," I explain why the only reason states practice execution is revenge.
Throughout the book, I explain why the only way we can look forward to a future without war and violence will be to end poverty, as well as the practice of putting people to death. Reaching those goals requires that we understand the complicated relationships between social issues and the solutions we apply to each problem.
We must make sure everything we do protects and reinforces the right of every person to education and employment to the fullest extent of their abilities and interests, and that nothing we do as a society endangers the health and safety of anyone in the world. It sounds complicated, but if we approach the problem by respecting these basic principles, we can accomplish miracles!
Join me in a vow to use our blessings, skills, and talents to build a society in which governments do not kill for revenge, a society without poverty or war in which everyone is able to enjoy at least the basic benefits of prosperity and peace.
Meanwhile, send out your positive thoughts and, for those who are believers, prayers for all the suffering souls all around the world!
PINAL COUNTY CHAPTER
CASA GRANDE, AZ
Monday, February 18, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Val Vista RV Park Clubhouse
16680 W. Val Vista Blvd.
The newly formed Pinal County chapter of Death Penalty Alternatives for Arizona will meet at 7:00 p.m. on the third Monday of each month, beginning on Monday, February 18, at the clubhouse at Val Vista RV Park, 16680 W. Val Vista Blvd. For more information, go to:
facebook.com/pages/Death-Penalty-Alternatives-for-Arizona/178240200928
PERSONAL:
I must take this opportunity to share a few ideas I discussed in my essay collection, The World I Imagine: A creative manual for ending poverty and building peace. Chapter 10 consists of five essays detailing what it would be like if "True Justice" were practiced in our society, including applying alternatives to the death penalty. In the essay on "Ultimate Crimes," I explain why the only reason states practice execution is revenge.
Throughout the book, I explain why the only way we can look forward to a future without war and violence will be to end poverty, as well as the practice of putting people to death. Reaching those goals requires that we understand the complicated relationships between social issues and the solutions we apply to each problem.
We must make sure everything we do protects and reinforces the right of every person to education and employment to the fullest extent of their abilities and interests, and that nothing we do as a society endangers the health and safety of anyone in the world. It sounds complicated, but if we approach the problem by respecting these basic principles, we can accomplish miracles!
Join me in a vow to use our blessings, skills, and talents to build a society in which governments do not kill for revenge, a society without poverty or war in which everyone is able to enjoy at least the basic benefits of prosperity and peace.
Meanwhile, send out your positive thoughts and, for those who are believers, prayers for all the suffering souls all around the world!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Another Arizona 2012 Execution: Another Vigil Report
When I posted Tony Fasline’s report from the vigil at Robert Moorman’s execution earlier this week, I knew he and Emily would do all they could to be present when Robert Towery was executed on March 8. This time they were the only ones demonstrating, but another person who happened to be working nearby took the opportunity to express support for the campaign to abolish the death penalty.
So, as promised, here is Tony’s personal remembrance:
Emily and I arrived at the prison in Florence about 9:15 A.M. I wore my Roman collar so to declare one clergyman's objection to the death penalty. We established a site on a corner next to the Anthony Auto Care shop across from the prison and the designated vigil site set up by the prison. Alone, we were holding up our signs and within ten minutes we had a prison officer, armed and with bulletproof vest, come to us to invite us to the established site. No one was seated under the canopy there. Very cordial, smiling, he said he was concerned about our safety, not to go out in traffic, etc. About ten minutes later two squad cars from the Florence City Police came to check us out and tell us about safety. Adults, we knew better than to stand in the middle of a busy road! Suspicious of their concern and cordiality, I believe it was a subtle way of intimidation to get us to their site, where we couldn't hold up signs, and be subject to their restrictions. They didn't want us holding up signs protesting their "death machinery"! Every 15 minutes or so, a squad car passed by our corner, patrolling the area, not necessarily checking us out. I never felt intimidated. We were within our rights to be there.
A main road with a goodly amount of traffic, many got to view our signs. Their were a few beeps and “thumbs up,” about 5 in total. I believe many did not know what we were protesting. Really unaware of the death machine in progress. Interestingly, the proprietor of Anthony Auto Care came to us, took photos of us for his face book. He told us he was a minister, doing street ministry in Phoenix, to keep kids, pointing to the prison, “out of there.” Parting, he asked God's blessing on us. A nice affirmation.
At 10:00 A.M. we joined hands and had prayer for Robert Towery, for victims’ families, for all on death row, for an end to the death penalty. We left the site at 11:00 A.M., thinking Robert Towery had been killed about 10:00 A.M. (We learned later he was killed at 11:26 A.M.)
On the drive home, feeling somewhat depressed, we didn't talk much. Nor stop for food. To return home, we took route #387, a favorite way for us through the Gila reservation. The sun was bright, the yellow Brittlebrush abundant along the road side, with stems of blue Lupine joining them, to grace the mountains we were passing. Helpful but, feeling somewhat depressed, we both expressed our feeling that it was like returning from a funeral.
I have mixed feelings when I say that as these reports continue, I’ll keep posting them here. As long as Tony, Emily, and other friends of true justice keep me updated, I’ll share news of their efforts to expose the barbaric practice of execution as the worst kind of emotional reaction to the sad fact of serious crime.
We hope that one day so much effort will be focused toward prevention of violence in our society that there’ll be little demand for the type of punishment people take for granted today.
Meanwhile, I plan to post an article soon about the ideas for reforming the justice system that I discussed in my book, The World I Imagine: A creative manual for ending poverty and building peace.
Watch for it!
So, as promised, here is Tony’s personal remembrance:
Tony Fasline at the execution vigil
for Robert Towery March 8, 2012
Emily and I arrived at the prison in Florence about 9:15 A.M. I wore my Roman collar so to declare one clergyman's objection to the death penalty. We established a site on a corner next to the Anthony Auto Care shop across from the prison and the designated vigil site set up by the prison. Alone, we were holding up our signs and within ten minutes we had a prison officer, armed and with bulletproof vest, come to us to invite us to the established site. No one was seated under the canopy there. Very cordial, smiling, he said he was concerned about our safety, not to go out in traffic, etc. About ten minutes later two squad cars from the Florence City Police came to check us out and tell us about safety. Adults, we knew better than to stand in the middle of a busy road! Suspicious of their concern and cordiality, I believe it was a subtle way of intimidation to get us to their site, where we couldn't hold up signs, and be subject to their restrictions. They didn't want us holding up signs protesting their "death machinery"! Every 15 minutes or so, a squad car passed by our corner, patrolling the area, not necessarily checking us out. I never felt intimidated. We were within our rights to be there.
A main road with a goodly amount of traffic, many got to view our signs. Their were a few beeps and “thumbs up,” about 5 in total. I believe many did not know what we were protesting. Really unaware of the death machine in progress. Interestingly, the proprietor of Anthony Auto Care came to us, took photos of us for his face book. He told us he was a minister, doing street ministry in Phoenix, to keep kids, pointing to the prison, “out of there.” Parting, he asked God's blessing on us. A nice affirmation.
At 10:00 A.M. we joined hands and had prayer for Robert Towery, for victims’ families, for all on death row, for an end to the death penalty. We left the site at 11:00 A.M., thinking Robert Towery had been killed about 10:00 A.M. (We learned later he was killed at 11:26 A.M.)
On the drive home, feeling somewhat depressed, we didn't talk much. Nor stop for food. To return home, we took route #387, a favorite way for us through the Gila reservation. The sun was bright, the yellow Brittlebrush abundant along the road side, with stems of blue Lupine joining them, to grace the mountains we were passing. Helpful but, feeling somewhat depressed, we both expressed our feeling that it was like returning from a funeral.
Tony Fasline at the execution vigil
for Robert Towery March 8, 2012
I have mixed feelings when I say that as these reports continue, I’ll keep posting them here. As long as Tony, Emily, and other friends of true justice keep me updated, I’ll share news of their efforts to expose the barbaric practice of execution as the worst kind of emotional reaction to the sad fact of serious crime.
We hope that one day so much effort will be focused toward prevention of violence in our society that there’ll be little demand for the type of punishment people take for granted today.
Meanwhile, I plan to post an article soon about the ideas for reforming the justice system that I discussed in my book, The World I Imagine: A creative manual for ending poverty and building peace.
Watch for it!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Deathwatch: Report from an Execution Vigil
On Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the State of Arizona executed Robert Moorman for the crime of killing and dismembering his mother. Though most experts agree that Moorman’s mental capacity was below the legal requirement for execution, states have no problem finding psychologists willing to testify that the opposite is true so they can go ahead and take out their official revenge.
The trouble is, no matter how many times a criminal is executed, it doesn’t turn back the clock, it doesn’t bring the victim(s) back to life. The murderer is no longer around to accept the lesson and learn from his mistake(s), and the official act of state murder has done nothing to reduce the number of crimes committed by others.
For this and many other, more spiritual, reasons, my friends, Tony Fasline and Emily, drove to the prison in Florence, AZ, to stand with several others and send the message that state-sponsored murder is wrong. It took Tony a couple of days to compose his report on the experience, and I’m honored to be among those friends that he chose to share it with. I’ve reprinted his email here, exactly as he wrote it:
About 8:30 A.M., Emily and I drove over to the prison in Florence. Police officers at the one point directed us to the site for the vigil. Security was very high. A squad car blocked the entrance to the parking lot where we were to vigil. There were about five officers there. One was a woman officer. One officer had us sign our names on a clip board. They gave us all kinds of rules. the area we were allowed to occupy, or walk in. We were not allowed to stay in our vehicle for some unknown security reason. They did provide water and allowed us to use a rest room facility in a nearby building. When using it, an officer walked you to and from the restroom. We were not allowed to display protest signs on State property. We could do it across the road, on city property. One officer called the Florence police to come and give us the permission, according to their restrictions, no parking illegally, no standing on private property, standing only on a sidewalk. As it was, we did not stand by the road side with our signs LIFE YES/DEATH NO, KILLING IS WRONG, but we sat in chairs, provided by the officers. The officers were civil, polite, very cordial. Analyzing the reality of the cordial atmosphere, these were people doing their “job,”, “civil” people participating in the process of putting a man to death. Civil but not civilized.
There was only one other protester at the site. A Jeanmarie Simpson from Tucson. We spent time sharing our backgrounds and we found Jeamarie, intelligent and very interesting. A Quaker, she writes for a Quaker publication and interviewed Emily and I. We three have diverse backgrounds but share a commonality in our concerns about peace, the death penalty. The three of us have come fast friends. She was taken up to the site by George and Nancy Mairs. George and Nancy were invited by Robert Moorman to attend his execution . They did so.
The execution occurred about 10:00 A.M. The officers began departing. We three joined hands and I led in prayer. Having written to Robert Moorman (he responded), praying for Robert, for all prisoners, for an end to our modality of killing and punishing, for an end to the death penalty, I had to turn away from the circle, to deal with my stab of grief.
The five of us drove to a nearby Mexican Restaurant for a late breakfast, to talk about Robert, about each other's life, finding out that we hold many same concerns and beliefs in common. An intellectual group, people of faith. Not committed to institutional religion but very spiritual, given to social justice. As Nancy termed it, not merely adversed to dogmatism but being a “subversive theologian.” I liked that label! I like Bp. Spong's label of “Christians in exile,” but like Nancy's label better. More fitting than the label of heretic!
Jeanmarie was most gracious to buy the meal for all. Thankful for her kindness, I am most thankful for such people as these who are committed to peace and justice. Saddened by the morning event, I found relief by meeting with these good people. My going to the vigil may have been for Robert Moorman, but it was, also, for me.
Now that Arizona has ended the life of Robert Moorman, they plan to do the same to that of Robert Towery on Thursday, March 8. Since that event will also be at the Florence facility, which is about 25 miles from Casa Grande, I know Tony, Emily, and a few others will again be present to hold vigil and remind the executioners and the citizens of Arizona that life without parole is the only humane alternative to state-sponsored murder.
When governments take a human life they’ve gained nothing, and they’ve lost everything. As a certain Mr. Graham, Member of the Canadian Parliament, was reported to have said in 1914: “‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ leaves the whole world blind and toothless.”
The trouble is, no matter how many times a criminal is executed, it doesn’t turn back the clock, it doesn’t bring the victim(s) back to life. The murderer is no longer around to accept the lesson and learn from his mistake(s), and the official act of state murder has done nothing to reduce the number of crimes committed by others.
For this and many other, more spiritual, reasons, my friends, Tony Fasline and Emily, drove to the prison in Florence, AZ, to stand with several others and send the message that state-sponsored murder is wrong. It took Tony a couple of days to compose his report on the experience, and I’m honored to be among those friends that he chose to share it with. I’ve reprinted his email here, exactly as he wrote it:
About 8:30 A.M., Emily and I drove over to the prison in Florence. Police officers at the one point directed us to the site for the vigil. Security was very high. A squad car blocked the entrance to the parking lot where we were to vigil. There were about five officers there. One was a woman officer. One officer had us sign our names on a clip board. They gave us all kinds of rules. the area we were allowed to occupy, or walk in. We were not allowed to stay in our vehicle for some unknown security reason. They did provide water and allowed us to use a rest room facility in a nearby building. When using it, an officer walked you to and from the restroom. We were not allowed to display protest signs on State property. We could do it across the road, on city property. One officer called the Florence police to come and give us the permission, according to their restrictions, no parking illegally, no standing on private property, standing only on a sidewalk. As it was, we did not stand by the road side with our signs LIFE YES/DEATH NO, KILLING IS WRONG, but we sat in chairs, provided by the officers. The officers were civil, polite, very cordial. Analyzing the reality of the cordial atmosphere, these were people doing their “job,”, “civil” people participating in the process of putting a man to death. Civil but not civilized.
There was only one other protester at the site. A Jeanmarie Simpson from Tucson. We spent time sharing our backgrounds and we found Jeamarie, intelligent and very interesting. A Quaker, she writes for a Quaker publication and interviewed Emily and I. We three have diverse backgrounds but share a commonality in our concerns about peace, the death penalty. The three of us have come fast friends. She was taken up to the site by George and Nancy Mairs. George and Nancy were invited by Robert Moorman to attend his execution . They did so.
The execution occurred about 10:00 A.M. The officers began departing. We three joined hands and I led in prayer. Having written to Robert Moorman (he responded), praying for Robert, for all prisoners, for an end to our modality of killing and punishing, for an end to the death penalty, I had to turn away from the circle, to deal with my stab of grief.
The five of us drove to a nearby Mexican Restaurant for a late breakfast, to talk about Robert, about each other's life, finding out that we hold many same concerns and beliefs in common. An intellectual group, people of faith. Not committed to institutional religion but very spiritual, given to social justice. As Nancy termed it, not merely adversed to dogmatism but being a “subversive theologian.” I liked that label! I like Bp. Spong's label of “Christians in exile,” but like Nancy's label better. More fitting than the label of heretic!
Jeanmarie was most gracious to buy the meal for all. Thankful for her kindness, I am most thankful for such people as these who are committed to peace and justice. Saddened by the morning event, I found relief by meeting with these good people. My going to the vigil may have been for Robert Moorman, but it was, also, for me.
Now that Arizona has ended the life of Robert Moorman, they plan to do the same to that of Robert Towery on Thursday, March 8. Since that event will also be at the Florence facility, which is about 25 miles from Casa Grande, I know Tony, Emily, and a few others will again be present to hold vigil and remind the executioners and the citizens of Arizona that life without parole is the only humane alternative to state-sponsored murder.
When governments take a human life they’ve gained nothing, and they’ve lost everything. As a certain Mr. Graham, Member of the Canadian Parliament, was reported to have said in 1914: “‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ leaves the whole world blind and toothless.”
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