Don’t petition the White House, Use Change.org

Nov 18, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Secessionists. I first want to say thank you for finally learning something from history. The last time so many desired to rid themselves of a tyrannical president they declared war on the Union. Thus, your use of a peaceful means through petitions on the White House’s site is commendable. Furthermore, each state now finds themselves represented by a petition and signatures from people possibly wanting to secede from the United States. Texas leads the way with more than 100,000 people asking the White House to address the issue. This is the same state governed by Rick Perry who drummed up his base of supporters with calls for seceding prior to his Republican bid for President. The irony seemed lost on him. Governor Perry is obviously not a viable option to lead the cause. He hardly put up a fight against a weak group seeking his party’s nomination. I also question...

The Country Moved to the Left Last Night

Nov 7, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

The whole campaign season did not just depend upon the presidential race that finally came to an end last night. Yes, the country voted clearly to give Barack Obama another four years in the White House. He received more than 50 percent of the vote and won handily in the electoral college. Yet, it is what happened down the ballot that shows the nation’s move toward progressive values. It appears that Democrats will pick up a couple seats in the lower chamber but the real change happened on the senatorial level. Voters said no way to Republicans Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock after they attempted to scapegoat women and downplay the trauma of rape and sexual abuse. Furthermore, women won in Massachusetts, North Dakota, Hawaii, and Wisconsin for their first terms. All four of them will be more progressive legislators than their predecessors. In Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin will be the...

Republicans, Rape, Life, and Control of Women

Oct 24, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

During last night’s Indiana Senate debate the Republican candidate, Richard Mourdock, did more than stick his foot in his mouth. I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen. Mourdock joined a club made exclusively of Republicans but a club that seems to be growing as the November election nears. Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh made a reprehensible comment about exceptions for the life of the mother following his debate. “There is no such exception. With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance.” Complete crap as this woman explains. Of course who can forget Missouri...

They can take my body but they can’t take my spirit.

Sep 26, 2011 Aaron Krager No Comments

“They can take my body but they can’t take my spirit.” – Troy Davis

The series of checks and balances in the criminal justice system failed Wednesday night with the State of Georgia executing Troy Davis at 11:08 eastern standard time on International Peace Day. For more than 20 years, Davis maintained his innocence and in recent years seven of the nine civilian witnesses recanted their testimony. A few have come forward and claimed police coercion and intimidation. At least three of the twelve jurors in the trial would now change their verdict with the latest evidence to not guilty.

A gubernatorial appointed Board of Parole and Pardons failed in its duty to ensure cases with reasonable doubt do not reach for the life of an innocent.

State Courts in Georgia and ultimately the United States Supreme Court failed in adequately listening to experts from around the country, listening to key eyewitnesses and ignoring the bragging of the real killer. They may have followed the letter of the law or the deeply flawed judicial process, but they failed to follow the spirit of justice.

Decision makers merely played along with a system hellbent on killing in order to prevent killing. Troy Davis’ death certificate will list the cause of death as homicide much like Officer Mark MacPhail’s read in 1989. The difference though is we have undeniable proof that the state of Georgia, the Supreme Court, corrections officers and others involved are guilty of homicide.

The MacPhail family may feel they received their revenge with Davis’ death but the evidence clearly points to the fact the real killer still walks the streets a free man.

Meanwhile, a private corporation profited in the death of Troy Davis. CorrectHealth is company specializing in providing healthcare services in correctional facilities. The company sought and won a contract with the State of Georgia and performed the lethal injection of Davis last night. The company was paid in the range of $18,000 for their services. A tweet on the company’s twitter account from two weeks ago even bragged “Our program minimizes inmate movement, lowering costs and lessening liability. http://bit.ly/gtbz9k” Sadly the link redirects to its home page.

Our democracy and any sense of justice is in mortal danger when we privatize executions of innocent people under the belief that public executioners are too costly.

Our democracy and any sense of justice is in mortal danger when we pray for our own mercy and refuse to deliver it to even the most innocent of people.

Our democracy and any sense of justice is in mortal danger when a murderous criminal justice system that wrong cannot be punished.

Troy Davis’ last word’s to Officer Mark MacPhail’s family was “I was not the one who did it. I did not have a gun. Look deeper to find the truth”

We don’t have to look deeper to find the truth. The truth is staring right back at us, shocked we are so blinded by our own preconceptions or a refusal to even open up our eyes.

We are afraid of the truth telling us we are guilty of state sanctioned murder in our representative democracy.

We are afraid of being awaken to a world full of trouble, evil and sorrow.

We are afraid of the hard work and the pain it takes in coming to terms with the truth.

But it is only by grappling with truth and feeling the immense sorrow of the world in which we can find our true character. One in which we find compassion for others and find the resolve to know we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

We must fight the urge to push the blame of Troy Davis’ death onto others and collectively ask for forgiveness as a nation.

We must fight the urge to fall into despair, and instead use our anger and frustration as positive energy to seek a better world.

We must fight the urge to give up in the wake this tragedy as well as others and instead find the resolve in communal gathers to battle injustice.

The deeper truth resides in all of us. Spiritually we know the fight lives on. It was here before Troy Davis. It is still here now that he is gone. The fight continues…