Scott and Sheila

Man keeps Death Penalty in Focus

 http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2012/01/10/news/doc4f0bc08d000ec408406526.txt

This article in the local paper from last week is about two friends of mine who have dedicated themselves to speaking the truth to power under very difficult circumstances. Being an advocate for prisoners, whether in our prisons in North Carolina and Texas, or offshore in Guantanamo,  Afganistan, or the "black sites" mentioned in the article, requires thoughtful commitment, inspiration, and fortitude that is over and above where most of us are in our thoughtful lives. We rarely think of the prisoners because of the reputation they have, and our own cynical attitudes... "If they are in prison, they must be bad, or have thought about being bad to us or others." The imprisoned managed to get a call out from Jesus in the sermon on the mount, mentioned in the beatitudes, of which there are only eight.

Righting wrong, crying out for justice and against injustice, is what the gospel is all about. Giving people rights such as trial by jury, speedy adjudication, and freedom from cruel and inhuman punishment is part of what our Constitution is about.

I think Scott and Sheila have it right in the cause that they pursue so ardently. We should support them in any way we can if we are not on the front lines of this movement to assure rights for all people, even those we usually look upon as most despicable. When rights are eroded in any way, it is like the shoreline of our great beaches after a hurricane, and the sands shift quickly, leaving other rights in the balance.

Go Scott and Sheila!