Hi there everyone,

I was wondering if any of you out there who correspond with death row inmates, would be kind enough to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences with me. As I've mentioned before, I have three pen pals on death row(two that I've really taken a liking to, and two in particular that I don't think deserve such a harsh sentence). Lately, I've been going through a very difficult time. I've started thinking a lot about how I'm going to handle it if and when something happens to them.

I just can't bear the thought of these people(who I really believe aren't so bad deep down) dying such painful, terryifying and humiliating deaths. The other day, I had a really vivid nightmare and was very shaken up. It's too graphic to describe here. One of my pals is supossed to die in the gas chamber. Do you know what a painful way that is for a person to die? God, she just doesn't deserve that. Not even the worst person in the world deserves that, let alone this woman.

I thought it might be nice to talk(even briefly) with someone who can truly understand how I feel, and empathize with me. Someone who doesn't believe my friends(who I care so deeply about) are disposable, and deserve to be discarded like so much trash. God it hurts when I hear people make statements like "that guy deserves to fry". It's like they stabbed me right through the heart.

Anway, my e-mail address is pelaccia@sympatico.ca

If any of you out there understand what I am going through, and would be so kind as to share a few moments of your time with me I'd really appreciate it. Maybe it would be helpful. Thanks a lot.

Sincerely,

Lisa

Hi Lisa, when I chose my PP’s I specifically did not want to write anyone on DR for that very reason how would I deal with the fact that someday his or her life would be taken. I really don't know what to say to you other than I am proud of you…. That you have the strength to take on that responsibly. The world needs more caring people like you! If you ever need to talk off board my email address is in my profile. Take care! Cindy

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Silverparrot

http://www.myspace.com/Silverparrot

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.

~~"My tears do not compromise my strength"...~~

Bumping this I think she needs some advice and help Wapsters....

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Silverparrot

http://www.myspace.com/Silverparrot

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.

~~"My tears do not compromise my strength"...~~

Hi there - I've lost way too many pals to execution and its never an easy time. When it happens all you can really do is cling onto the knowledge that you gave that person a small patch of happiness and caring.
I had one guy his name was Harold Otey and he was a very proud black man very polite and he always refered to me in a polite manner but would NEVER call me Mo as he felt it wasn't right. A short time before his execution I got two letters from him where he said he felt it was now the right time to call me 'Mo' because he wanted to thank me for all the support I had given him through my letters.
Although writing to a person on DR isn't easy I have NEVER regretted going down that path and will continue to do what I'm doing. (smile)

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They say NOBODY is perfect so just call me NOBODY

Hi Lisa,



I know how you feel, and I still cannot understand why there are not more people protesting to such barbaric acts in the USA.
In Europe we don't have a DR penalty, only sentence for live, and when you are good while serving these sentence you can have a reduction on your sentence.
It brakes my heart to know that there is still a death penalty in the USA, especially when you have governors like mister Terminator in CA how thinks that he gains extra votes by sending blind old people to the electric chair, this is truly barbaric.

Micky, Belgium

Bumping again...I know you Wapsters have more advice to give.

__________________
Silverparrot

http://www.myspace.com/Silverparrot

Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch.
Sometimes they hold you up and sometimes they lean on you.
Sometimes it's just enough to know they're standing by.

~~"My tears do not compromise my strength"...~~

Hi Lisa,
My view is that nobody deserves to be sentenced to death. I truly feel the person that flicks the switch or presses the button is as bad. But those are my feelings. I personally would never write to anyone on DR for that reason. I would build a relationship, get close and all the time know it was never for keeps. I think you and anyone else that befriends anyone on DR has a quality that evades me. I wish you all the very best
TC
Carol
X

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Well my friend, if I may call you that. First of all I would like to say that I too write to a Pp on DR. Although he has not been given a date, I do know that if he does eventually come up for that time I will be there heart, body and soul for him. I know that I try not to concentrate on his predicament to the extreme. There are times though where I go *OMG* and worry. But I find that I get alot of wonderful happiness in reading his wonderful letters penned with such friendship that I find hard to even imagine when the time has to come how I will be. I don't want to focus on that... I keep our correspondence to the now and the happiness each of us get in our letters. I do try help by educating others, and stating my own opinions. Never trying to get into heated debates on the DEATH PENALTY. As thats not my place to do. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I do know that with all my free world friends, most understand why I choose to make friends with anyone be it someone doing life, or on DR or a short timer. ITs about both of us... and I continue to focus on that. Never have I regretted writing to him, or anything. Nor will I ever despite what may eventually happen. If you want we can talk further. Just let me know and I will email you.. Hugs and keep your chin up.

Hi. I'm not sure that I have anything very insightful to say to you, as I have only being writing to a lady on death row for a short time.
I would imagine that my reasons for choosing such a penpal would be very similar to your own, namely that I have an opportunity to make a tiny difference for the better in a life that is beyond anything that I can imagine in terms of mental anguish. I think the thing to cling on to is the knowledge that you are not doing this for you, you are doing it for your friend, and if you were to stop because of your own heartache, theirs would be even worse.
I hope that the time never comes for you to face this pain, but if it does I believe that you will cope with dignity and console yourself with the fact that you reduced their suffering by taking some of it on yourself. I don't think there's a much greater gift that you can give to anyone than that.
All good wishes.
cj

I just wanted to say thank you for all of your kind words. It is reassuring and comforting to know that there are people out there who truly understand how I feel, and have compassion for these individuals that the state literally intends to discard.

The Governor of California(in my personal opinion) is a man devoid of conscience or feelings. This is a person who put what was in the best interest of his political career ahead of his moral and ethical obligation to protect human life.

I too heard about that old man being put to death(he was deaf and blind, and very frail). I just don't understand what good came out of executing this poor, defenseless human being. Executioner's must be very sick people, who not unlike SOME of the people they murder derive some perverse pleasure from weilding power and control over another person and influcting pain on them. Sick.

My one pen pal(Susan) who is on the row for murdering her four children(I personally believe that she was mentally ill) has not been there for a long time(since 1999) I believe. So I hope and pray that it will be a very long time before she is murdered. Perhaps never, although given the fact that it was such a high profile case that evoked so much public outrage the chances of her sentence being converted to LWP is nill. I just don't understand it. Why can't we find it in our hearts to show this woman(this human being) some mercy? What gives us the right to take her life?

I know you guys are right. There is little point in debating the topic with someone who already has their mind made up. They are either unwilling or unable to see these people's humanity. What I find so sad is that they do not even see that in their thirst for revenge, they have become what they purport to despise.

Mystic MO: I give you a lot of credit! You continue to write to these people, even after you have endured many painful losses. You must be a very strong person. I will never put myself in this situation again. I feel that it is just too much for me to bear. But of course I will not abandon the friends I already have. I will be there for them until the end. But than that will be it. No more for me.

Thanks again to all of you, especially those of you who took the time to e-mail me personally. Your kindness is greatly appreciated. Your words made a difference. All the best to you and your special pals. I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

Lisa