Enkidu Kind
11-10-2001, 10:21 AM
This is for anyone who is an outspoken opponent to the death penalty, or for anyone who is interested in reading a very interesting and telling book. I recently had to give a position against the death penalty for a class project, and I found a book that shed new light on America's most well-known form of execution; the electric chair.
The book is called The Electric Chair: An Unnatural American History, and is authored by Craig Brandon. (Pub. 1999, McFarland & Co. Inc., Publishers; www.mcfarlandpub.com) If anyone has ever wondered how the electric chair came about, I definately would recommend this book. I myself was surprised to find out how much political and economic manipulation was behind the inception of the Chair.
The book outlines in great detail how the electric chair was used as a simple means for two robber barrons (George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison) to make millions of dollars in the newly-discovered electric utility industry. It shows us that money clearly is more important than the Eighth Ammendment, which is supposed to protect all Americans from cruel and unusual punishment.
Anyway, I just wanted to pass this along. It's the kind of stuff that will make your blood boil. I had a reaction much like the one I had when I read The Emperor Wears No Clothes. I had no idea so much sketchy shit went down during the Chair's rise to prominence. Read it.
PS- If anyone here goes to PSU, the call #'s are HV 8699.U5 B69 1999. I will be returning it to the library on Monday.
:) Enkidu :)
The book is called The Electric Chair: An Unnatural American History, and is authored by Craig Brandon. (Pub. 1999, McFarland & Co. Inc., Publishers; www.mcfarlandpub.com) If anyone has ever wondered how the electric chair came about, I definately would recommend this book. I myself was surprised to find out how much political and economic manipulation was behind the inception of the Chair.
The book outlines in great detail how the electric chair was used as a simple means for two robber barrons (George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison) to make millions of dollars in the newly-discovered electric utility industry. It shows us that money clearly is more important than the Eighth Ammendment, which is supposed to protect all Americans from cruel and unusual punishment.
Anyway, I just wanted to pass this along. It's the kind of stuff that will make your blood boil. I had a reaction much like the one I had when I read The Emperor Wears No Clothes. I had no idea so much sketchy shit went down during the Chair's rise to prominence. Read it.
PS- If anyone here goes to PSU, the call #'s are HV 8699.U5 B69 1999. I will be returning it to the library on Monday.
:) Enkidu :)