June 2009
In some book, somewhere I read that if you put a normal person in an abnormal situation long enough, that normal person will become abnormal.
Somewhere I read, the U.S. government does not torture people and does not condone torture – not here in the United States or anywhere in the world.
Somewhere I read, that America’s use of the death penalty does not cause pain or undue suffering. That it is humane and gives the condemned a dignified death.
Somewhere I read, that every vote counts and is counted here in the U.S.A.
Somewhere I read, that women, all women, are no longer second class citizens, or other people’s property, and that they own their lives and bodies and are truly equal to men.
Somewhere I read, that the mainstream news media is accurate, precise, fair, unbiased, equal and honest in its coverage and reporting.
Somewhere I read, that only the guilty go to jail, that only the guilty are executed and only the guilty get life without parole sentences.
Somewhere I read, that innocent people get out of jail when they prove their innocence, that innocent people don’t get tortured and executed, and that innocent people don’t spend their entire lives behind prison walls.
Somewhere I read, that love don’t love nobody.
Somewhere I read, that there’s a thin line between love and hate.
Somewhere I read, that the United States constitution is not conservative or liberal, not republican or democrat…it’s the law.
Somewhere I read, that in criminal law, or any other type of law, “the state’s interest is not that it shall win a case, but that justice shall be done.” (Berger v. United States, 1935)
Somewhere I read, that the constitution is colorblind.
Somewhere I read, that there are no hungry people in America.
Somewhere I read, that everyone in this country has a place to call home.
Somewhere I read, that Americans take care of their own.
Somewhere I read, that slavery has ended.
Somewhere I read, that the truth shall set you free.
Though I keep reading, sometimes I must put my books down because I keep finding out a great deal of things that I read about aren’t true. And this depresses me.
In Struggle From
Death Row at San Quentin
Kevin Cooper