Executing Women: What Message Does This Send Out to Society?
The newest female to be given an execution date is Cathy Henderson, Texas. According to the Save Cathy Henderson website, and to Sister Helen Prejean, " Cathy was condemned to death for murdering a baby. That's what the Texas prosecutor claimed. But I believe Cathy's version of what happened. Cathy was baby-sitting with little Brandon and, to stop him from crying, was swinging him around when, barefooted, she stepped on a sharp toy, lost her balance, and the baby flew out of her arms, hit the wall, and died. It was an accident, but at trial there was miserable defense for Cathy to tell her story and examine forensic evidence to show that the baby could have died as a result of such an accident. The plight of the poor: no defense for Cathy, who sits on death row, and a venal prosecutor, who presented her as a monster and now sits in the legislature." http://www.cathyhenderson.org/ Cathy is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on April 18, 2007, unless a stay of execution is issued by Rick Perry, the Governor of Texas.
In a society as ours that shuns violence against women by men, this is the ultimate abuse toward a women, lethal injection. The female's body is strapped to the gurney, injected with the deadly drug combination, and the females body is handled afterward by men. This is not only cruel and inhumane, but degrading to the women as well.
What message is sent out to society when a women is executed. Is it less humane to execute a women inmate than a man? When we teach our children that it is wrong for a man to abuse a women, then read about executed women in the newspaper, or watch it on the news, does it send a mixed message? That it's wrong to abuse a women, but OK to strap her to a gurney and kill her by lethal injection?
Article 3 of The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against women reads: Women are entitled to the equal enjoyment and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, cultural, civil, or any other field. These rights include, (a) The right to life, (b) The right not to be subjected to torture, or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Does this article apply also to women who are sentenced to die?
Capital punishment has come a long way. It is no longer legal to execute juveniles, or those proven to be mentally impaired. Will the future include those of the executions of women? Or will society allow this ultimate cruel act against women to continue?
Published by Dee
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24 Comments
Post a CommentShe and the other women on death rows actually killed correct?? Why should they not be executed like men are.
Lets start to empty out "all" death cells" men & women alike. NOW.
Maybe like the towel heads in Iran we should publicly execute some men/women for their crimes.
dee conveniently doesn't bother to mention the fact that henderson, instead of calling 911 for help if this was what happened, ran with the baby's body and buried it in the woods, and kept running.
NO rational person has any doubt about henderson's guilt. she had a totally fair trial. she was given the best defense possible, since there is no defense for the wanton murder of a baby, as she did
Im sorry dee but your arguement is very weak and makes no sense. How can you compare domestic violence to capital punishment. Dom violence is violence against a partner for no justifiable reason and capital punishment is for a very good reason. Although im not a fan of the death penalty I cannot see how you can differentiate between men and women when talking about killing someone. It is wrong to treat men and women differently, we live in an age of equality. As you said we dont want to send our kids mixed messages, such as men and women are equal in every way but not in the eyes of the law regarding capital cases? Remember men suffer abuse at the hands of women also, so (going with your view here dee) therefore we shouldnt execute men? Differentriating by sex is the same as differentiting by race and im sure you wouldnt dream of doing that, e.g. you cant execute mexicans cause its wrong to abuse them and doing so sends mixed messages to our kids - sounds absurd dont it. Same with wome
Now wait a minute. Women are the ones always bitchin' about "equal opportunity" but once you get it,you whine like a bunch of sob sisters. Women are just as capable as man of brutality, and they should be subject to the same punishment as a man would receive. Isn't equality great!!!!
April 4, 2008
I am against the death penalty, period. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Thou shall not kill, that's it. It doesn't include the clause except under the following circumstances: .......... As for Cathy, she made one BIG mistake. She ran away instead of immediately contacting the pertinent authorities and promptly owning up to the accident. It is because she ran away that leads people to believe that she is automatically guilty. She is guilty, alright. Guilty of making bad choices. And she has paid dearly for all those bad choices. But, making bad choices does not in any way, shape, or form justify the death penalty. An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Sounds fair, right? What if I were to tell you that if everybody on Earth were to apply this "legendary" statement we all would be blind and teethless?
I support clemency for Cathy Henderson. Anyone who thinks she hasn't paid for what she did is completely wrong.
Regards,
Emily
She murdered an innocent baby, buried him in a wine cooler box and then went and had a margarita, please, give me a break. You don't swing a baby around to keep him from crying, you GENTLY rock him until he falls asleep. Why does she deserve anything less than what she administered?
Coming from my deepest thoughts'about this Case..
I dont think she murdered that child' God Bless'
The childs Family! I'dont Think She Should Die!
Robert Ryan
Just so you know, Cathy is horrible!! The more I know, the more I believe she should die. She murdered a precious loved baby and buried his body in a field! She wouldn't even tell us where his precious body was for 21 days!! It has been a living nightmare that I would not wish on my worst enemy. If you support her, you have no idea how horrible she is!
Brandon's Aunt,
Julie
Women deserve the exact same punishments a man would receive.They do the crime they have to pay for there actions.How would executing a woman be any more cruel then executing a man ?I just don't understand this.Women have fought for equality for years.I guess some women only want to be treated equal when it suits their purpose.Sounds like poor, poor me I'm a weak inferior woman so please don't make me pay for the terrible crime I have commited.
Beth, thats fine, you have a right to your own opinion, no problem.