Death penalty is not what Jesus would do

“How high’s the river, Mom?” sings Johnny Cash, a song constantly dancing in my head lately. Yes, this is a historic flood, never to be forgotten. But also dancing in my head is another historic first. We Mississippians are now executing three persons in one month, another record high. Actually, I would rather not care, because what those thugs did was so horrible that the death penalty is much too easy for them.

When I took a few minutes away from the real suffering caused by this flood and read the gruesome details of the crimes of these useless persons, I can truly say it seemed that objecting was wrong. I thought hanging, quartering and pulling their insides out and chopping off their heads would be better! I am a human being and that is what I felt! Besides the flood is more important.

But then there was my conscience, staring me in the face. Where did it come from? Well, that’s another story. As much as I hate to object, I must.

I was challenged by discussing in my childhood if I would grow up to be just a “convenient Christian” or if I would I really listen to those wild ideas of a man named Jesus who I was convinced was pretty special?

I learned all persons have dignity, even persons I just called thugs. Oh, what a difficult burden, “loving one’s enemy,” “doing good to those who hate you,” something about “only those without sin be the first to throw the stone,” or whatever that was about “turning the other cheek.” Now all that is so impractical! Impossible! Reminds me of what Gandhi said about thinking well of Christ, but not seeing very many true Christians.

But I choose to pray and ask forgiveness as we the citizens of this state plan, plot and carry out the deliberate death of other human beings. It does not undo their crimes and makes us killers. Would that we could be put on trial and found guilty of being a Christian. Capital punishment is not Christian.

Mary Jane Reed Gaudet

Natchez resident