Blackhacker

This post on Blackinformant got me thinking. It asks the question what if Tookie had been a KKK? A fair question. Their are some parallels. As a founding member of the Crips Tookie is responsible for the death of a lot of Black people. The Klan is responsible for the death of a lot of black people. Even if he is innocent of the murders he was convicted of Tookie isn’t innocent by any stretch of the imagination. What possible reason could their be to spare this man’s life? Good question.

< analogy >
When I help my son with his home work I almost NEVER give him the answer. I only ask him the questions that he is not asking himself. The right question can put many things into perspective.
< /analogy >

My question about Tookie is “What if he where a mobster?” There are many, KILLERS, who’s lives have been spared, even freedom preserved, because they had knowledge or experience that they could trade for their lives. Sometimes not just their lives but a whole new life. The Government is cool with this. They get a way to gain advantage over criminals who are more insulated from prosecution. Of course the criminals are cool with it. America is above all else a capitalist society and therefore as such just about everything is for sale to some degree.

So, what does Tookie have to sell? Tookie may have something that could be used to dissuade those who who take up a criminal life style, persuade those who have to change and be more productive. Tookie has “street cred.” he has used to write children’s books and to foster foster peace in the organization he help to found.

Working on the assumption that Tookie has some “pull” with would be “gangtas”, wouldn’t clemency for a killer be worth it? What is clemency anyway. It is not exoneration, or a pardon, it is merely mercy. No one is making any judgement about the guilt or innocence of Tookie, by granting his clemency, just that “i don’t feel like killing you anymore.” Like I said in the Capitalist society that is the US of A, we can’t just give mercy away. Let him FROM JAIL continue to work for peace. If we can get something for that mercy I’m cool with it.

UPDATE:
Gov. Schwarzenegger denies Stanley Williams Clemency
ps: I’m still cool with it.