They never knew what hit them in the state legislature yesterday! From out of the clear blue sky, over 50 citizens, concerned with the completely arbitrary and unfair manner in which the death penalty is applied, targeting the innocent, the mentally ill, racial minorities, and the poor, descended on the capital for the first ever Justice Day on the Hill!

All in all, over 30 different legislators were visited by their constituents, including almost half of the states 33 senators. A terrific turn out for a first effort, and each and every person involved should be thanked and congratulated.

The day began at 8:30 with a welcome and orientation from the TCASK staff. This was followed immediately by people heading out to meetings (the earliest of which were scheduled at 9:00. The majority of the meeting were over by noon, but a number of participants stayed around and the last meeting was not scheduled until 4:00.

A large contingent of students from MTSU came and visited 4 different Rutherford County legislators (including Kent Coleman – the vice-chair of the judiciary and a strong supporter of fairness and accuracy in our criminal justice system) as well as some of the students from other areas of the state visiting their own reps.

A smaller group of students and faculty arose before 6:00 am to drive all the way from Bethel college and visit 4 different legislators in 3 hours! And legislators who, in some cases, haven’t put a great deal of thought into the death penalty. So Kudos to Allen McQueen, Jeremy Buford, Jeff Watson, and Professors Janet and David Reid!

And finally, we should recognize Jason Pflug, who drove all the way from Cleveland, TN to visit legislators yesterday. All in all we had folks from McKenzie, Jackson, Dickson, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Cleveland, Lenoir City, and Knoxville at the capitol.

And we need to send out a big thank you Whitney Mitchell and Stacy Rector who volunteered at the TME table keeping everyone organized and on task, and without whom the day could not have succeeded. And, of course, Big Poppa himself, my favorite muffin, TCASK’s rocking E.D., Mr. Randy Tatel whose guidance and help (from arranging the lunches for all participants, to leading meetings) made everything we accomplished yesterday possible.

The important point to remember (and for anyone who has taken TCASK lobby training – you know this already) is following up. Everyone who participated will receive and email from me today which will remind them to send a thank you note to their legislators including any more information requested and reminding them of any and all commitments that they made. It’s all about the follow-up!

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

one of the cool things about life itself is that you never know what a new day will bring to you…

for example the 14th of this month brought to me a retired navy captain who strongly opposes the death penalty…

in his e-mail follow-up to our phone conversation he writes, “I have never been for the death penalty but have gradually worked more and more to oppose it for over the past 10 years…”

but you can read in his words that his opposition has been passive, internalized, or static but not so much an active volunteer vocation…or at least he’s been isolated from any form of strategic, collective action…

what has changed things for him is coming face-to-face with the death penalty in human flesh, blood, and spirit… you see, the son of a childhood friend of this 30 year naval veteran “Summary Court Martial Officer, Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel,” has been charged with murder and it appears that the prosecutor and some of the community want to kill this young man, the son of his childhood friend…

i thought about that … how one defines him or herself as a friend should a close friend face this tragic situation … consider the pain and grief of this boy’s mother and father – they have cried desperately over both what the victim’s family is suffering but also what they may suffer as well…they wonder how much they are to blame, they love their son dearly even though he committed a horrible act in a moment of weakness …

and so my new acquaintance, this retired naval captain writes, “The fact that this is a good friend’s son make it personable and forces me to stop procrastinating…A few weeks a friend _______________, who has worked for years opposing the death penalty sent me an email with the words “thank you for trying to save the young man’s life”. This email changed my way of thinking. It is black and white with me now. A person either wants _______________ to live or they want him to be killed. Some even want him killed sooner to avoid the cost of ‘all those appeals’.”

somewhere in this small story lies a key for alex, myself, and all of tcask’s volunteers … how do we motivate and mobilize people like captain _________ to come on board sooner rather than later … we believe in our strategy and the tactics we are employing to realize our goals but it sure would be nice to unlock this mystery…

peace out – <3

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

was a time when fiddle player charlie daniels supported and campaigned for jimmy carter – now he’s just another, as jerry jeff walker might yell out, REDNECK…

seems that ol’ charlie’s reactionary politics runs extreme to the max…i mean in the 70’s he was singin’ bout’ bein’ a stoned, long-haired country boy…

by the early-mid 90’s, when support for the death penalty topped out in the polls, charlie was advocating the death penalty for drug dealers…

why i even know some republicans that think that’s a bit harsh …

we know that there are some wonderfully talented musicians who support our position and our efforts, people like steve earle, rodney crowell, emmylou, nanci griffiths, natalie maines, michael kelsh, and more…they is, as we say down south, good folk…

so as i sit here this afternoon i’m just wonderin’ what happened to drive tokin’-smokin’ charlie daniels over the edge … i mean just as moderates and conservatives are becoming wise to the malfunctioning of the death penalty system, a dried up talent such as mr. daniels pushes the envelope to the right, gettin down with the likes of sean hannity and rush limbaugh – well i guess they’re all in show biz and sellin’ the product is what they’re all about …

nonetheless (and sixpence none the richer) our work, district by district in the state, continues to bring us in touch with thoughtful tennesseans, mainstream middle americans who still hold a value like fairness dear to their heart and are willing to fight for it if they’re given the tools and encouragement…

and we’re thankful because they encourage us in return and we’re uplifted by every classroom, conference, and convocation we address …

now that’s what i’m talkin’ about…

peace out – <3

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong heartiness problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile malfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be highly dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile malfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

tennessee supreme court justice adolpho birch, jr. announced his upcoming retirement from the court. justice birch has been the only judge on the court to honestly address and admit to the failures of the state’s death penalty proportionality review and has consequently voted, usually as a lone dissenter, to overturn death sentences in this state. to be clear, he votes to uphold any conviction where constitutional or judicial error can not be found but votes to overturn death sentences because the state’s proportionality review is an utter and abject failure.

we will deeply miss the ethical standard justice birch has brought to the state’s highest court…

Justice’s law review
March 19, 2006

Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Adolpho A. Birch Jr., who became the state’s first African-American chief justice in 1996, will end a 43-year judicial career when he retires at the end of August. Birch, 73, of Nashville, has spent 13 years as one of the five justices on the high court.

Birch, whom Gov. Phil Bredesen described as a “trailblazer,” is the only Tennessee judge ever to have served at all levels of the court system — General Sessions, Criminal Court, Court of Criminal Appeals and Supreme Court.

In a recent e-mail exchange with The Commercial Appeal, Birch recently responded to questions about his tenure on the Supreme Court and his earlier work as a civil rights-era lawyer. Here are excerpts from that conversation:

Q: Now that you are retiring from the Supreme Court, what is the one enduring memory you have of your service on the bench?

The one enduring memory I have is the collage of people who have helped and inspired me, and those whom I have, perhaps, inspired. I have had the enviable privilege of working with so many talented professionals. Along the way I have also met countless numbers of people with character and integrity. One regret is that I cannot thank each of them individually for the impact each has had on my career and my life.

Q: What do you consider the most significant case the court decided during your tenure?

Because I view all of the cases the Supreme Court decides as significant, I have made it a practice not to identify any one case as more significant than others. There is one, however, which had tremendous impact on education, and that case is Tennessee Small School Systems v. McWherter. That case held that the state had an obligation to maintain a public school system that afforded substantially equal educational opportunity to all students, regardless of their county of residence.

Q: What were your feelings about being the first African-American to serve as chief justice?

I always approach the “first black to do this or that” accolade with extreme caution. The reason is, for every “first one” there looms large in the past a host of others who tried but were rebuffed and rejected by unconstitutional laws and practice. I am ever mindful of the sacrifices those forebears made, and I fully realize I stand upon their broad shoulders. But for their sacrifices, none of this would have been possible.

Q: You’ve been criticized in the past as being against the death penalty and faced an organized effort several years ago to oust you from the bench primarily because of your death penalty rulings. What are your overall views about the death penalty?

My overall views of Tennessee’s death penalty protocol are available for inspection in the Southwestern Reporter (encyclopedia of case law), beginning with the Second Series. Not to be curt, but I’m sure you understand that this is all I can say.

Q: As a lawyer in Nashville in the 1960s, you handled a lot of civil rights cases. What was it like as an African-American attorney in those days, representing lunch-counter protesters and citizens seeking basic civil rights?

It was indeed tough to represent lunch-counter protesters and others who sought to enforce their constitutional rights. Any black lawyer who practiced in the South in the ’50s and ’60s can attest to the discourteous, rude and insulting treatment accorded both client and lawyer. Indeed, if not insulted, we were ignored. This dismissive treatment intensified because of the frontal attack on unconstitutional practices.

Q: When most people think of the leaders of the civil rights movement, they naturally think of black preachers such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others who were at the forefront. Talk about the significant impact that black lawyers had on the movement as well.

Black lawyers were the architects of the civil rights movement — Charles Houston, William Hastie, Thurgood Marshall, Constance Motley, James Nabrit. It was their blueprint, unerringly followed, that culminated in the monumental decision in 1954 in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas.

Q: As someone who has been part of the judicial system for so long and has witnessed so much change for the better, why do you think so many African-Americans still believe the system remains unfair to them?

I think the perception of unfairness in the judicial system is more informed by “class” divisions and economic factors than “pure” racial discrimination. Admittedly, there is much overlap and blurring of lines, but if you can agree that “rich” and “poor” are values that have different meanings for different individuals, then “fair” and “unfair” must be subjected to the same analysis.

Q: What advice do you give young people who may be interested in a career in law?

Decide to invest every ounce of your being into its study and practice; 99 percent just won’t do.

Q: What are your plans after retirement?

Nothing definite. I do have four grandchildren who are a source of great joy for me.

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile dysfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

on tuesday in the nashville city paper a letter to the editor appeared that bridged a divide that we often find in our outreach work … while we support broad criminal justice system reforms, tcask is a single-issue organization precisely for this reason … the issue of the death penalty, as the lil’ jesuit dude likes to say, cuts a weird swath across political and social groupings … allies on this issue are not likely to be all buddy-buddy on issues across the board … for example, the anti-death penalty movement attracts people from both the “pro-choice” and “pro-life” movements … it creates a fine line that we must walk as organizers and explains why tcask is a narrowly focused single-issue group …

read and comment…

To the Editor:

I have been confused about the “right to life” debate for quite some time now.

37130
Dr. J.L. Brockman

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying heartiness conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Yes, it’s Wednesday morning. At 8 am to be exact, every college student’s favorite time, I mean most college kids only see 8 am if they haven’t been to bed yet, but I’m hear and giving a talk to a race relations class on race and the death penalty. (By the way, if you kids think that 8:00 is early, someone mapquest the trip from Nashville to Bethel, so the math, and realize that I was up at 4:45 this morning. UGH!)

Actually, I was asked to do another presentation, right afterwards, to a sociology class, so I want to make these distinct presentations. But where does one begin to talk about race and the death penalty?

Why not at the founding of the country? This is not the tactic I’d take with everyone, but in a college race class, let’s dig up some roots (since I’ve got an hour). Let’s look at the development of the slave economy leading to a high concentration of blacks in the South (and let’s dispel the illusion that the North wasn’t racist and just remember that until after the civil war, there was a relatively tiny number of blacks in the North). And let’s remember that slave owners became obsessed with the fear of slave insurrection. And even more frightened when those slaves were free. How do we control these people? Extra-legally, with lynching, the KKK, etc. “Legally” with executions. Now the link between lynching and execution has been hard to pin down scientifically, but there are some serious connections that we should look at. For just a few:

– These are (primarily) Southern phenomena

– They are, generally, white-on-black punishment for black-on-white crime

– They are “necessary” to maintain social order (specifically to protect white women – check out the stats on executions for rape for instance)

– Both have defenders who claim states’ rights and want Washington to stay out of the way they run things.

So that’s a good place to start our discussion, followed closely by the fairly poor due process in the current death penalty system, which can lead to the issue of innocence as well (and the number of exonerees that have been people of color. And that, is how we git ‘er done!

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual appeal among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile malfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be highly dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

so yesterday, monday the 20th, i went to spring hill high school outside columbia, tn (and outside the saturn auto plant) and spoke with a class of 25 sophomores, juniors, and seniors …

their teacher, a great guy named david huebner, told me they had been studying the death penalty for a coupla weeks and that overall this buncha’ semi-rural tennessee teenagers was pro-death penalty …

so whaddya do w/kids like that — to make an impression, a dent on their psyche, to stimulate a little bit of thought here…

on the advise of the lil’ jesuit dude i started out with the story of paul house and down the issue road of innocence … this led to 2 more examples — truncated versions of the stories of juan melendez and ray krone … each time i brought the point home by asking “who wants to go tell mama house, mama melendez, mama krone, that their innocent son had to die because we need the death penalty???” — i never got a single volunteer – point made …

where to next??? — so i began to use alex’s rhetorical device (“but does it work???”) to some effect – i’m certainly not as good at it as he is but we walked through some of the arguments for the death penalty that way and it was, i think effective … for those who weren’t sleeping …

but i wanted a closer, a sort of mariano rivera of death penalty presentations, and i came back to a discussion of “what about the victims…” – and it was effective …

i walked them through distinguishing healing from closure, walked them through the delay in healing caused by the death penalty system, walked them through how we let down the families of brenda blanton lane for example, and then went to the family of robert glen coe … their family history of abuse against all four of the coe siblings, robert’s severe mental illness, and how his sister sat down, and watched through a glass window, their brother strapped down, his body filled with poisons, and the life sucked right out of him by the state of tennessee …

i did it slowly, dramatically, in detail, and with effect …

i think that’s at least one way you approach seemingly pro-death penalty teenagers…

peace out – <3

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile dysfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be so dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

i’m sittin’ at my desk – only for a minute or two today – wonderin’ how the heck this came to be – and ain’t it a beautiful thing…

ya see i’m borrowing nanette’s truck for the 3rd time in a week because tcask needs at least 2 functioning, safe to drive, cars to keep up with the demand for its services … i.e. educational presentations and mobilization events…

my brother donated a 2000 dodge intrepid to tcask in 10/04 and it has served our work well … but now we need another, safe, reliable vehicle ’cause right now i won’t see the lil’ jesuit dude all week until friday …

he’s in lenoir city tonight, knoxville tomorrow, and carroll county wednesday and thursday … and thursday night he bops over to chattanooga for a very special meeting and he’ll be in the office friday…

i was at spring hill high school (by the saturn plant) today talking with a current events elective class of about 25, ill be on the hill tomorrow lobbying and assisting with mental health day on the hill, and thursday i’m presenting to a class of social work students at tn state university … oh, and i have a boatload of administrative, fundraising, and outreach work to do by the end of the week …

so as much as we use the bus we need a second car … or else we’ll have to say NO to some invitations and that would be a tragedy …

what a change in needs in just a year —

got a used, well-maintained, and reliable jeep, suburu, or honda anyone???

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual claim among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying health conditions that can be very dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile dysfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

2006 is our year of 1st annuals at TCASK. We’ve had our first annual New Year’s Resolutions drive, our first annual Concert for Life, and, coming up soon, our first annual Justice Day on the Hill. That’s right, folks, it’s time for us to get out there and actually talk to our state representatives, and about 40 people will be converging on the capitol on March 29th to do just that!

The day’s schedule will be fun, we’ll have registration and opening remarks between 8:00 am and 9:00 am followed by appointments with your legislators to discuss the need for a moratorium on capital punishment here in Tennessee. Folks will get to meet not only with their state representatives and senators, but can accompany their neighbors on their visits as well. We’ll provide box lunches for everyone to attend, and then around 1 pm we’ll hear from speakers from our many partner organizations in a press conference that everyone is encouraged to attend. And you should all be on your way by 2:00. And it’s not too late too sign up and join us! Call me (Alex) at the office at (615) 227-6101 or email alex@tcask.org and I’ll get you signed up.

But do hurry because the amount of detail and logistics work in setting up a day on the hill is astonishing. First we have to actual get all the information for all the people coming. Then we need to put together individualized folders for all legislators that we’ll be visiting. Then we need to call and set up appointments (that don’t conflict) for everyone who will be joining us. And we need display tables. And a place to put on our programs. And to schedule a press conference and find a venue and make sure that it can work for all the partners that will be speaking. And put together information for all of our members who are coming: talking points, appointment schedules, etc.

Phew. I’d like to say a public thank you to Whitney Mitchell, from MTSU, who is doing a political campaign internship with us and is in the office today doing a ton of work on this day and making it all possible (if you can, find some work study students to help you, people). But we will git ‘er done. We already have people from more than 33% of the senate districts in the state! You could be next!

Fairly, there are numerous aspects you would like to think about medications. All discount medicaments save money, but few online drugstores offer better deals than other online drugstores. There isn’t anything you can’t order online anymore. Remedies like Deltasone ordinarily is used to treat diseases such as eye problems. Glucocorticoids naturally occurring steroids, which are easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. There are varied drugs for every conditions. Cialis is a remedy prescribed to treat many illnesses. What do you already know about long term side effects of cialis? What consumers talk about how long does it take for cialis to take effect? A general sexual complaint among men is the erectile dysfunction. Sexual problems mostly signal deeper problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Albeit the erectile disfunction itself isn’t necessarily dangerous, erectile disfunction is sometimes one of the early warning symptoms of other underlying soundness conditions that can be much dangerous. Unfortunately nearly all over-the-counter medicines have sometimes dangerous aftereffects, from muscle aches to death. If you buy any erectile disfunction medicaments like Cialis, check with a physician that they are sure to take with your other drugs. Do not take unwanted medications. Take Cialis to your local chemist’s shop which will dispose of them for you.

Now I may be able to blog about rhetoric. I may be able to construct speeches and orate them, but this is the South and it is a story telling culture, and the fact is, I don’t have any great personal stories to share in regards to the death penalty. And a single story is worth every fact and statistic that I can throw out there.

Fortunately, there are amazing stories a-plenty, and yesterday a sitting on the floor, standing room only crowd at MTSU got to hear a few of those. A panel on women’s perspectives on the death penalty was put together for Women’s History Month (by the wonderful Dr. Amy Staples, aka, “Puddin Head” – see http://tcask.blogspot.com/2006/02/in-praise-of-puddin-head.html). This panel included Regina Hockett, whose daughter was murdered 10 years ago, and Joyce House (pictured below) , whose son, Paul House, has been on Tennessee’s death row for over 20 years and is innocent.

All four presenters did a fantastic job, but I want to talk particularly about Joyce. Our capital punishment system does everything it can to tell us that the people on death row aren’t people, they’re inhuman, or they’re monsters. Those kind of people don’t have families. They’re unloved and unlovable, we’re told. And within ourselves, we’ve each probably internalized some of that. So now picture a small, sweet woman standing in front of 90 people and saying very simply that the state is trying to kill her son, who is innocent and confined to a wheel-chair due to M.S., for which he is not receiving proper medication. Let Joyce tell you flat out, “The system doesn’t work,” because she knows from personal experience. Then try to think about the death penalty the same way.

These are the stories that have the capacity to change the way we conceive of the death penalty, by changing the way we conceive of in inmates. Saying, “I want to kill that animal” is one thing. Saying, “I want to kill Joyce’s son” is something completely different.

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