In theory, I still am from a purely idealistic standpoint.
It could only happen in a hypothetical, nonexistent world where justice truly is blind, is fair, and it isn’t handed down disproportionately to the poor and BIPOC. An extreme last resort reserved only for the most heinous crimes – the Golden State Killer, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer.
This is not the world we live in and it never will be.
And as I’ve aged and learned and grown, I’ve also accepted that fact and I’ve embraced all the many arguments behind abolishing the death penalty. I don’t even care about the monetary costs. Sparing one innocent life is worth all the lifetime sentences of humanity’s most evil and remorseless.
Having said that … I think it comes from a place of wanting to know an abuser is truly gone forever. There’s an inimitable feeling of relief that comes with knowing there is absolutely no chance they will ever come back to wreak more havoc on your life. Or that they get to go on in the world, enjoying the freedoms and comforts and security they stole from you.
It’s always interesting to me when I see people say “I don’t want him to die, I want him to go to prison.”
Ford pardoned Nixon immediately. As I said before, George W. Bush is a war criminal and he attends baseball games with Ellen when he’s not painting and being memed in photos where he’s giving Michelle Obama a piece of candy.
Trump won’t ever go to prison. If he loses, and anything happens, Biden will pardon him. He’ll be the worst nuisance he possibly can be without actually being in control.
And in many ways he will still be in control even if he’s no longer the president, because he will command the attention of millions and constantly be interjecting in any attempt to heal this nation and move forward.
Speaking to a friend yesterday, we both found solace in agreeing that we simply just want him gone. Forever. No lengthy drawn out legal process that is on every station for months on end, no out of control media circus and constant analysis from all the talking heads, no more tweets, absolutely no chance at escaping consequences …
Just, gone.
Why should he get to continue living in the lap of luxury?
The desire for and belief in eternal judgment stems from a place of personal desire to know nobody can escape retribution. I get it. It’s understandable. It’s an ingrained human drive. I know I don’t have to tell you this.
Death is a fitting punishment for someone whose favorite things are attention, control, and manipulation. It’s got to be terrifying to know that you can’t stick around to keep doing that.
I just want him to go away forever.
I want this awful reality tv show to end.
—emily duchaine
Flommist Emily Duchaine lives in the Pacific Northwest. She likes to drink mead, learn about sharks, and listen to the Talking Heads. She pretends to be a professional businesswoman most days. Copyright © 2020 Emily Duchaine.
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