A Cry Heard Round The World: Kim Sun-Il died desperate and alone, but he did not die unheard.
Looking At And Longing For Mars: Reflections on a childhood dream.
A Robot May Not Harm a Human Being. Is The Opposite True?: Thoughts on the future rights of artificial intelligence.
Long After The Boys Of Summer Have Gone: What makes a relationship work?
Winter Of Our Feline Discontent: What the cat wants, the cat gets. But what DOES it want?
To Tell The Truth: There may be no honor among thieves, but can't we find it even in a few good men and women?
Should The Human Brain Retire?: We know that we cannot win forever. We know that machines will continue to improve. So why don't we let the human brain retire gracefully now, with honors?
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Published: Sep 16, 2005 01:41 PM
Fri - June 18, 2004
A Tale Of Two Cities
The state of Maryland executed by lethal injunction a 42-year old American convicted of murdering a newlywed, a motel clerk, and his own wife's sister in 1987. Steven Oken spent his last 17 years in a prison supported by state taxpayers, while his court-appointed lawyer exhausted voluminous appeals, including an unsuccessful argument to the U.S. Supreme Court that death by lethal injection is a cruel and unusual punishment prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution.
He died peacefully. Oken spent his last morning chatting with a rabbi, who described him as being "at peace" with his fate — even while hoping until the end that he could keep living. A reporter who witnessed the execution said that the prisoner smiled occasionally at the prison chaplain, who stood beside him as three successive drugs flowed into his veins and stopped his heart. No photographs were taken.
Amnesty International, which issued an urgent appeal calling upon its members to petition Gov. Robert Ehrlich for clemency, described this state-sanctioned execution as an example of the "ultimate denial of human rights." His attorney said Oken's death was "like my son being killed."
Paul Johnson, 49, who also died today loved the people of Saudi Arabia and considered that country his home. His "crime" was being an American citizen and daring to live in the Middle East. When kidnapped last weekend by Al Qaeda, he was contemplating conversion to Islam. He received no trial, no representation, and no appeal—save the tearful pleas of his wife to spare his life.
Trussed like a turkey, blindfolded, with no chance to pray with Christian clergy beforehand, Johnson was shot repeatedly by his captors after the Saudi government refused to release prisoners as demanded by Al Qaeda. A member of the terrorist group then severed the victim's neck, removed his head, and placed it in the small of his back while colleagues snapped photographic mementos. One of these photographs posted on a web site showed Johnson's head, face toward the camera, being held by a hand. Two others showed his headless body lying prone on a bed, with the severed head atop. One showed a bloody knife resting on his face.
The AP described both deaths as "executions."
What madness. If the U.S. invasion of Iraq "provoked" Johnson's death, it is yet worth remembering the profound moral distinctions that separate due process from anarchy, reparation from revenge, and an execution from a homicide.
Such differences matter. They are what separates a civilized society from a band of thugs.
Yes, two Americans accused of crimes died today. But only one died unjustly.
Update:
Since posting on this topic, I've noticed traffic from people searching for photographs of the atrocities that Al Qaeda inflicted upon Nicholas Berg, Paul Johnson, and Kim Sun-Il. You can find those photographs and videos here and here. But I must warn you in advance that they are extremely graphic images. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.