Death Penalty Observation

Today, I'm just going to let someone else speak:

"The act I committed to put me here was not just heinous, it was senseless. But the person that committed that act is no longer here - I am.
I'm not going to struggle physically against any restraints. I'm not going to shout, use profanity or make idle threats. Understand though that I'm not only upset, but I'm saddened by what is happening here tonight. I'm not only saddened, but disappointed that a system that is supposed to protect and uphold what is just and right can be so much like me when I made the same shameful mistake.

If someone tried to dispose of everyone here for participating in this killing, I'd scream a resounding, "No." I'd tell them to give them all the gift that they would not give me...and that's to give them all a second chance.

I'm sorry that I am here. I'm sorry that you're all here. I'm sorry that John Luttig died. And I'm sorry that it was something in me that caused all of this to happen to begin with.

Tonight we tell the world that there are no second chances in the eyes of justice...Tonight, we tell our children that in some instances, in some cases, killing is right.

This conflict hurts us all, there are no SIDES. The people who support this proceeding think this is justice. The people that think that I should live think that is justice. As difficult as it ma seem, this is a clash of ideals, with both parties committed to what they feel is right. But who's wrong if in the end we're all victims?

In my heart, I have to believe that there is a peaceful compromise to our ideals. I don't mind if there are none for me, as long as there are for those who are yet to come. There are a lot of men like me on death row - good men - who fell to the same misguided emotions, but may not have recovered as I have.

Give those men a chance to do what's right. Give them a chance to undo their wrongs. A lot of them want to fix the mess they stated, but don't know ho. The problem is not in that people aren't willing to help them find out, but in the system telling them it won't matter anyway. No one wins tonight. No one gets closure. No one walks away victorious."

Last statement from Napoleon Beazley, Executed 05/28/2002 for a crime he comitted when he was 17 years old. That's juvenile and counted as children where I come from. I think it is outrageous! More information on Death - Row happenings in Texas you will find here.

Summer Thoughts

I’m idling. My present geographical position is at the mid-norwegian coast-line, on an island called Hitra. I sit at the patio, listening to remote sea-gulls, yelling for food or whatever. The house is behind my back. In front of me the ship-path leading either to the north of Norway, or to the south, with what seems to be no limit, Bergen, Scotland, England, Denmark, USA, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, or whatever you may think of.

The view here is quite spectacular right now. Behind the house and my back, the sun is sinking into the sea in the west. In front of me is a long chain of mountains coloured red by the sinking sun, in front of them a small island named Hemnskjel, with knolly mounts pitching rigt upp from the sea. The houses on Hemnskjel are mirrored on the quiet peaceful surface of the ocean. Huge masses of salt water, somewhat it looks clean, and I want it to stay that way – badly.

Today I’ve been carpenting. The house is my parents’. It was built in 1936 and has not been developed much since then but for some normal maintenance. They bought it three years ago, and they’ve had a LOT of work to do since then. The bathroom is now all new, as is the kitchen. And the living – room. Last summer two of the exterior walls were rebuilt, new isolation, asphalt plates and new wooden panel. New patio, new windows. I did my share of the work, I tell you.... This year there are the two remaining walls. My father has tored up the panel and so on, so now it’s just skeleton left. We’re putting in new isolation, and my job is to put up the rough wood to nail the wooden panel onto. A heavy job it is, alot of climbing, sawing, and 4 inch nails to hammer into the wall. After some time with that, it’s time to put some white paint on the panels, then nail them to the wall, put some yellow paint on, then tha outer boards, then some yellow again. Voila! New wall! Warm House! New windows!

My body is over 30. You can see that by the lots of scars on my fingers and hands from knives I’ve used during my years as a tool-working man. You can also see it by looking at my belly which I think will never come back to its old flat-shaped look. Now it is somewhat big I think. God knows what woman would look upon me and think I’m a sexy guy. Bless her, the one.... My body is turning brown nowadays, though, working outside as I am. The sun is working on it, while I’m working like a dog, not eating too much fat food. Some beer, though, due to the hot climate I’m living in. God bless my belly.

The sky is blue, I’m sitting outside, it is 23:00 and still over 20 degrees celsius outside. My kids are asleep, it is quiet here, except some birds, and some ships passing by on their way to wherever, and some motorboats passing by. The trees and plants are green, shadows rising. Life is good, I think, even though I’m out of work recently, dumped my girlfriend not so recently, and not quite sure what the future will bring upon me.

I will stay out here a couple of weeks, just to work on the house and bring some distance to the things that’s been bothering my mind lately. Then I will travel for some weeks, before I go to heavy search for some employment. I’ve got 4 months to do so. 5 if I count my holidays. Good luck to me! Cheers!

The mosquitos are killing me. They’re taking the night-watch. Here is a special tiny bastard called KNOTT, where you pronounce the K, they’re 2-3 mm, and a real hell to come out for. The normal mosquito you can see, these bastards you don’t, and they’re coming in large crowds feasting on my blood. Fortunately I’m not very allergic, so it’s just the single sting that’s bothering me, not allergic reactions in the aftermath of their attacks. So, now I quit the writing of tonight, and leave the mosquitos to the company of the birds and the deers living in the woods behind the house, further into the island. I still think, and therefore I still am. Thanks for your attention, whoever you are.