Friday, January 17, 2003

Nobel Prize for Gov. Ryan QUOTE OF THE DAY "Someday Americans will recognize the current period of national debate on the death penalty as an abolition movement much like the one that ended slavery." - - Governor George Ryan RHINO HERE: Time Magazine has been conducting an interesting poll asking their readers: "Which country poses the greatest threat to world peace in 2003? Iraq - North Korea - The United States Results are ongoing & interesting. Current results are revealed when you cast your vote at. http://www.time.com/time/europe/gdml/peace2003.html The White House has an "opinion" line open from 9-5 EST., Monday thru Friday. Call 202-456-1111. A machine will detain you for a moment & a pleasant live operator will thank you for saying "I oppose" or "I approve" the war on Iraq. It will only take minutes. It's closed weekends. The president has said he wants to know what the American people are thinking. Let him know. This week Illinois Governor George Ryan commuted all of the state's death sentences, saying, "I have done my very best to do the right thing. The U.S. sets an example for fairness and justice, and I am still not convinced that our system in Illinois is without flaws. We continue to be at risk of executing innocent people, and so I have made this decision." Three sentences that Ryan found particularly troubling were commuted to a term of 40 years, the rest to life without parole. He is already facing a great deal of criticism. If you'd like to easily email him a message of support, The Moratorium Campaign has set up a web page facilitating you to do so: http://capwiz.com/moratorium/issues/alert/?alertid=480521&type=CU The Moratorium Campaign seeks to obtain an immediate moratorium on the death penalty nationally. The project includes a coordinated global petition drive. Worldwide, over 3.2 million people have signed the petition & the number is growing. In the U.S., this effort is led by Sister Helen Prejean, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee & author of Dead Man Walking. http://www.moratoriumcampaign.org A campaign to support the nomination of Governor Ryan for a Nobel Peace Prize is located at: http://www.stopcapitalpunishment.org You can show your support by signing the petition to the Nobel Committee at... http://www.stopcapitalpunishment.org/signup.html ...and by doing so, join a long list of others including; Lucie Arnaz, Edward Asner, Barbara Bosson, Blair Brown, Peter Coyote, Ted Danson, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Olympia Dukakis, Richard Dreyfuss, Anthony Edwards, Shelley Fabares, Morgan Fairchild, Mike Farrell, Melissa Gilbert, Danny Glover, Ken Howard, Laurence Luckinbill, Kent McCord, Paula Poundstone, Mary Steenburgen, Noah Wyle, Alec Baldwin, E.L. Doctorow, Anjelica Huston, Camryn Manheim, Susan Sarandon, Diahann Carroll and Peter Yarrow. THE BOTTOM LINE today is the speech delivered by Governor Ryan in which he announced the commutation of all of his states death sentences. Some say he's done this just to have a legacy. I believe, judging from his comments, that he's sincere, and deserves such a legacy. 8:16:48 AM    comment

"I Must Act" Excerpt from the prepared text of Governor George Ryan's speech Northwestern University College of Law, January 11, 2003 "...It is right that I am here with you, where, in a manner of speaking, my journey from staunch supporter of capital punishment to reformer all began. But I must tell you, since the beginning of our journey, my thoughts and feelings about the death penalty have changed many, many times. I realize that over the course of my reviews I had said that I would not do blanket commutation. I have also said it was an option that was there and I would consider all options. During my time in public office I have always reserved my right to change my mind if I believed it to be in the best public interest, whether it be about taxes, abortions or the death penalty. But I must confess that the debate with myself has been the toughest concerning the death penalty. I suppose the reason the death penalty has been the toughest is because it is so final, the only public policy that determines who lives and who dies. In addition it is the only issue that attracts most of the legal minds across the country. I have received more advice on this issue than any other policy issue I have dealt with in my 35 years of public service. I have kept an open mind on both sides of the issues of commutation for life or death. I have read, listened to and discussed the issue with the families of the victims as well as the families of the condemned. I know that any decision I make will not be accepted by one side or the other. I know that my decision will be just that - my decision, based on all the facts I could gather over the past 3 years. I may never be comfortable with my final decision, but I will know in my heart, that I did my very best to do the right thing. Having said that I want to share a story with you..." READ THE ENTIRE SPEECH AT: http://www.stopcapitalpunishment.org/ryans_speech.html 8:08:53 AM    comment

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