The Ancient Colosseum of Rome shines for the Abolition of the Death Penalty in New Mexico

Whoever was in charge of the weather today in Rome did a great job.  It could not have been more perfect – a perfect day for a conservative Western American state to feel the embrace of the civilized world.   Now that's what I'm talking about!  The America I believe in does not torture or execute people, and we are working together to restore America to a position of pride and admiration in the world.  Today, in Rome, Americans were admired.  We can get used to it.

This morning, Santa Fe Archbishop Michael Sheehan escorted the New Mexico delegation to a position of honor at the Papal Audience, introduced Governor Richardson to the Pope and spoke of abolition of the death penalty.   The voice of the church has a very broad reach, and when it speaks of abolition it has enormous power.

Then back to Sant’Egidio for a very well attended press conference.  Our World Coalition partner Mario Marazziti, spokesperson of the Community of Sant'Egidio, is impressario of an extraordinary series of events, planning everything from the grandest gestures to the smallest details, from the press conference to a birthday candle in the tiramisu for a member of the Archbishop's party.  And of course, the drama of the Colosseo.  Perhaps even the perfect weather?

Governor Richardson is a media star here.  He is naturally charismatic, and Italians, like many Europeans, are fascinated by American politics – particularly American Presidential politics – and the governor is a large and familiar figure.  He said that his role was only the two seconds it took to sign the bill into law.  Not quite true, of course.  He is an intelligent and thoughtful man, and he thought and read and considered a great deal before changing his mind about the death penalty, convinced, he said, by the American record of wrongful convictions in capital cases – up to 131 exonerations as of today – by the availability in New Mexico of the awful penalty of permanent imprisonment, and by his growing awareness that the United States is being left behind by the world – left behind with human rights abusers like China and Saudi Arabia.

But of course, as he acknowledged, the real heroes of New Mexico’s journey to Abolition are State Representative Gail Chasey, who has been fighting this battle for over a decade in the legislature, and Viki Elkey, Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty.  These two extraordinary women, and the thousands of people in New Mexico and beyond who worked with them, have accomplished something spectacular, and one piece of their reward tonight was the illumination of the ancient Coliseum of Rome in their honor, and in honor of their state’s achievement.  

Comments

1. Comment by ed hardy, Jul 9th, 2009 2:27am

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