Earthtalk

The last legal public hanging in North Dakota occurred in March, 1903 at the town of Bottineau.  The jury deliberated for an hour and fifteen minutes before finding the defendant guilty of murdering Thomas Walsh in his sleep because he wanted his horse.  He stole 3 of Walsh's horses afterward.  The murderer was 30 years old, married, and a father of several children.  He spent his last days praying and in the end said he was redeemed and ready for the "great adventure".  A large crowd had gathered for the execution. One account describes how a priest held a crucifix to the murderer's lips while the latter kissed it.  “The black cap was pulled down, the signal given.  Sheriff Gardner pulled the lever and the trap door dropped. He went down like a shot. His neck was broken, the report being plainly heard." 

So ended the life of my great great uncle, one William Robert Ross (aka Willie or Billy Bob). Ross feared that, if not hanged, he would return to his old criminal ways.  What was gained by executing Billy Bob, a man who claimed to fear living and was ready for death?  At least in those days there were no appeals, no long, expensive years on death row.  For such a cold-blooded murderer it seems that life in prison would have been a more appropriate punishment.  Our blood-lust and cult of revenge has deep roots.  Collectively, we are a mean-spirited people that committed genocide against Native Americans, lynched black men by the hundreds, are unwilling to give up our guns, and too damned willing to go to war.  We have yet to become fully civilized. 

The death penalty for Boston bomber, Anzor Tsarnaev, is only the most recent evidence our desire to exact revenge, no matter what the costs. Wouldn’t life in prison for Tsarnaev have been substantial enough of a punishment?  We are high on the list of countries that execute criminals, a distinction we share with China, Iran, Somalia, and Saudi Arabia.  As the  wealthiest, most powerful, and, supposedly, most civilized country in history, is this the cohort with which we wish to be associated?  We have now created a new martyr for terrorists to use to promote their violence and to recruit other young men and women into their fold.

5-16-15

Sunday NY Times March 15, 2015   (And online)

        To the Editor: The problem with Kevin Carey's belief that online courses are the future of higher education is that few college‑age students ever finish them. The courses have had better success with adults like Mr. Carey, who are more disciplined and better suited to the task of self‑motivated, online learning.

        Online courses will never provide the total enrichment of a campus education and, at best, will provide a useful supplement. Colleges are responding to market demands, giving people what they think that they want.

         Change will come from within colleges only when parents and students are willing to give up the frills and stop swallowing the hype that universities peddle and actually investigate what is going on in the classrooms. Find out who is being hired and getting tenure and promoted: outstanding teachers or outstanding researchers. Colleges with a preponderance of average researchers who are good‑to‑excellent teachers is where you should invest your tuition dollars. Start doing this and the colleges will follow.

Sunday NY Times,  March 15, 2015