I have always been fascinated by people's fascination with what those sentenced to die choose for their last meal. There are whole websites devoted to this subject. One of the meanest and most disturbing things I have come across is a guy being denied one last cigarette. The things people choose for their last meal are bizarre. White cake with frosting. Meat. Pizza is a popular choice, which is expected, I suppose.
I came across this article today. It is almost as disturbing as denying someone a last cigarette.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/09/execution.pizza/index.html
It is proof that those involved in state-sanctioned murders have lost their sense of humanity, if they ever had any to begin with. The prison can't donate a pizza to a homeless person? They don't have $10 to send the Dominoes guy to the street to deliver a pizza to some random dude? No, of course not. If it's not sodium bicarbonate, they have no interest.
Also, notice that the link is "execution.pizza." The death penalty is one of those things that is not so de moda to be outspokenly against these days, but it remains for me one of the things most abhorrent and embarrassing about this country. Somehow, printing the final menu choices of those sentenced to die is extremely humanizing. Everyone has favorite foods. After reading people's menu choices and particularly seeing what minor requests were denied, I can't imagine anyone still thinking the death penalty can be squared with living in a civilized nation. Ordered liberty my ass.
But, this article also makes me hopeful. Even people in Tennessee believe in the basic humanity of those sentenced to death. Maybe if today they can charge $1200 for pizza, some day they will vote only for candidates that oppose the barbaric practice of state-sanctioned murder altogether. Maybe. But probably not until we "fix" terrorism. I guess it will be awhile.
If I had to pick a final meal it would be cottage cheese, red grapes, and a really kickass burger.
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