I listened to the report

I listened to the report of McVeigh's execution this morning and it made me sad. Sad for the people that got killed during his sensless attack. Sad for the survivors and the families of the victims that are still reliving the tradegy. Sad for the fact that the government feels that execution is an appropriate punishment for any crime. And sad for the fascinations and sometimes glee with which the whole thing is rehashed, reported, broadcast, viewed and eaten up by so many people.

I can empathize with the victims wanting closure, but I really do not believe that exacting the death penalty punishes the perpetrator any more than condemning him to life without parole. I believe that for many people this is an act of vengeance and not punishment. The idea that this execution will serve as a deterrent for other potential is totally ridiculous. A public execution like this is the greates propaganda for a nutcase like T. McV. Instead of languishing in obscurity in some prison he gets to become a venerated martyr for the likes of him.

Now I do believe that he is guilty and despite the embarasing blunders of the FBI he got convicted properly. I just strongly disagree with the sentce.