Dear FRONTLINE,
It was a very good idea to attempt a more balanced view of
the capital punishment issue. In theory.
Like many such attempts, some interesting issues are overlooked. A glaring issue that your program missed was the politics and economics of the death penalty: the costs (psychological, not just economic) of maintaining a system like this; the social background of death row inmates; why executions are performed in such secrecy.
Sister Prejean is the greatest voice to come in a long time
on the side against capital punishment and sometimes gets a
lot of flak; in great contrast to the pro-death penalty camp
whose voices have been loud and clear for a long time. Well,
the British didn't like it a bit when the colonialists,
the forefathers of this country, decided in favor of a
revolution.
Miguel Marcos
New York
Dear FRONTLINE,
I have just finished watching tonight's Frontline.
Let me begin by saying I am again impressed at the quality of journalism
and the depth of reporting that is the hallmark of Frontline.
I have rarely been so moved by a television program, nor left so confused as to how I feel about the issue of the death penalty.
As a Canadian working in the United States I have often recoiled at what I saw to be a barbaric attitude in the death penalty. It is no secret to those outside of the USA that this country and South Africa are the only 2 "western" countries with such a "remedy" for heinous crime.
But, put in the context of the unspeakable rape and murder of Faith, the repeated rape and torture of Debbie and the brutal attmepted murder of Debbie's companion, I am at a loss.
Were it my daughter, my sister, my girlfriend, would I not demand the termination of the perpetrator's life?
And so, am I too willing to abandon long-held principle in the face of horror?
I do not know.
For that alone, you are to be congratulated.
Dr. M.E.S.
Gloucester Point, VA
Dear FRONTLINE,
You addressed one of the more bewildering
issues facing society today. And like any concept rooted in
metaphysical dynamics, the death penalty topic causes sharp,
antithetical positions of for and against. But your thorough
even-handed approach towards the victims and their families,
balenced by the conscientious work of the Nun, drew me away
from the edge of this dilemma and left me in the center.. a
position I find to be very uncomfortable. But because it
concerns a human life the death penalty should elicit
constant disscussion as your program has provoked.
Robert Jordan
Chicago
Dear FRONTLINE,
Neither the film or the Frontline piece managed to change my
mind on capital punishment. What I would be interested in
knowing is why it takes ten to twelve years to deal out this
punishment. In my opinion if the sentence is death, it should
be carried out immediately.
Rich Green
Portland, OR
Dear FRONTLINE,
A powerful show. Television at its very best. We are left to agonize
with this disturbing issue - as we should be.
Thank you.
Doug Berryhill
Dear FRONTLINE,
The figure of Justice carries scales and a sword -- not a cross. Sister
Prejean's views are personal to her and rooted in her religion. Through democratic
processes our society has determined that death is an appropriate sentence in
extraordinary circumstances. This fact is without reference to any particular
relion as is guarranteed by the Constitution. The Sister has a right to her views
but only religous intolerance would suppose to morally elevate them above the
opposing beliefs of the majority of citizens whose views are reflected in the death
penalty statutes. Can it be that Sarandon and Robbins do not see the inescapable
parallel here to the anti-abortion movement? How amazing.
N.P.
Dear FRONTLINE,
The most compelling documentary I've seen...can't imagine the editing choices that
were made. Which side? Can't say. But the emotions from both views came through as
honest, devoid of any political grandstanding or ratings sensationalism.
This is why I watch television. The toughest story, superbly crafted. Great job.
J.S.
Seminole, FL
Dear FRONTLINE,
I am an attorney who represented a man who was executed in 1995. The movie
"Dead Man Walking" and your documentary "Angel on Death Row" helped me
understand what I learned is wrong with the death penalty. Whether or not
the death penalty is ever justified, the interminable appeals process and the
hypertechnical legalities associated with an execution deny the victims the
right to feel justice has been done; they also work to deny the condemned the
right to redemption. I am sure that some victims are justified, and some
condemned find redemption, but they do so in spite of the process, not
because of it. More movies like "Dead Man Walking" and more documentaries
like "Angel on Death Row" will help turn our collective attention from the
peripheral legal issues -- where all of the money, time and talent are spent
-- to the center of what an execution is all about: what the condemned person
did, and whether as a result it is just for society to take his or her life.
N.B.K., II
Chicago, IL
Dear FRONTLINE,
After seeing the film, this Frontline program and the
various interviews on TV, I believe Sister Prejean may bwell
be doing "Gods work" in attempting to save the souls of
these individuals, however, I also believe that the death
penalty is fully justifed for these crimes.
Don't confuse saving a criminals life with redemptiom. of
their soul.
Richard Davis
Palo Alto, CA
Dear FRONTLINE,
I was very moved by "Angel on Death Row." Thank you for
the presentation. I am a public defender in California who
represents people on Death Row. When I began this work, I
was only mildly opposed to the death penalty. Like everyone
else, I am still horrified by the brutality of the murders
that I must encounter in my daily work. Nevertheless, after
being personally involved in this work for many years now, I
have become convinced that the United States must join the
rest of Western democracies in abolishing the death penalty.
I do understand the rage and revenge that the victims'
families feel. But it is as much for them as anyone, that we
need to invest our resources in programs that have some
chance of deterring future crimes. In other words, if we
really care about victims, then we must take action that
will prevent future victims. We can never bring back
the dead, but we CAN do things that will reduce the number
of victims in the future. Throwing scarce resources into
the death penalty is clearly NOT being "tough on crime." To
the contrary, supporting the death penalty simply insures
that the crime rate will continue and that we will have more
victims. A recent AP survey revealed that most families of
victims did not feel relief after the murderer was executed.
The mother of one of Ted Bundy's victims said, "It doesn't
heal you like you think it's going to." (Belva Kent, mother
of Debi Kent) In addition, the death penalty is racist (the
race of the victim -- white -- is the number one predictor of
who will receive the death penalty, targets the poor, is
irreversible in case of mistake, and does nothing to deter
crime. Life without parole sentences amply protect society
without all of the shortcomings of the death penalty. We
will get there eventually.
Ellen Eggers
Dear FRONTLINE,
Though I realize that this documentary was about Sister Prejean, I can't
help but feel that there wasn't enough said about the rights of the victims in
these cases. These inmated on death row are monsters, and ought to suffer for what
they did to their victims. I would have liked to hear the opinion of that man that
they tied to the tree and shot in the back of the head, who managed to come out of
the attack alive. I suspect he may not be so forginving. And you can't look at that
picture of Faith who was found in the woods and tell me that the person who carved
her up was human.
Verena Wolter
Dear FRONTLINE,
The thought that most sticks in my mind is:
It's not whether a person deserves to die, it's whether we have the right you
kill them.
Maybe we would be better off looking at the message of the Bible and
Faith(s)....and remember that the role of judge of life and death belongs not
to us, but to God (however we envision that Being).
Thank You,
M.F.
Milwaukee, WI
Dear FRONTLINE,
Living in Canada, a country which has chosen not to use the death
penalty as a method of punishment or retribution, I am pleased
and intrigued by the debate which the book, the film and your
program will elicit.
The U.S. is one of the few countries in the Western World who regularly impose the death penalty - it also has the highest murder rate.
I think it is crucial that Americans debate this extremely emmotional
subject in order to come to some agreement as to the purpose
this penalty serves and whether it is effective in its aims.
Yours truly,
M. Morris
Vancouver, Canada
Dear FRONTLINE,
Kudos to Frontline for your portrayal of Sr. Helen Prejean
as the "Angel on Death Row." Unlike her book "Dead Man
Walking," both Frontline and the film version presented a
balanced view of the capital punishment debate.
Your broadcast and the film leave the impression
that both supporters and opponents of the death penalty
will find reinforcement for their opinions. I was heartened
to watch the surviving victim of a rapist/killer now having
doubts about the appropriateness of capital punishment.
Her comments spoke volumes --and should cause all citizens
to re-evaluate what exactly the state is doing in their
behalf.
J.A.
Dear FRONTLINE,
The real Angel On Death Row was not the liberal nun misguided
by Catholic tradition, but the young girl who was brutally
murdered by an unrepentant bestial murderer.
Well, as usual Frontline, took the low road thinking it was
the high road by giving the "good" sister the last word
about the last breath of a man who deserved "sanctioned"
killing. When will you liberals learn that it is the spiritual
death - the one that unrepentant folks are allotted - rather
than the physical death that matters eternally? This man might
have repented if he had not been convinced by the nun that he was
the victim of injustice.
Sincerely,
Joe Clarke
Akron Ohio
Dear FRONTLINE,
These men got what they deserved. They without question were animals.
They paid for their reckless behavior. It appears that would never have changed
outside of prison and continued to prey on others. They won't have that chance
now.
Eli Raisovich, Jr.
Dear FRONTLINE,
Sister Prejean's desire to counsel death-row inmates is admirable.
Someone needs to.
Her disregard for the victims is not so admirable. That Debbie from
Madisonville made the first contact should be a source of shame to Sister
Prejean.
Debbie is the real hero in this story. Her ability to step outside her
own pain and terror shows what a remarkable individual she has become. Sadly,
Sister Prejean had to be reminded that there was someone else involved in
this case other than Robert Willie.
C.C.
Boise, Idaho
Dear FRONTLINE,
I began watching "Angel on Death Row" after the
program had started, when the focus began on how the
Sister had become involved in the case. As I watched I
found myself sympathizing with the prisoner. I was unaware
of his exact crime, and his shame seemed sincere.
However, as the story continued, and I learned the
nature of his crimes, I lost almost all sympathy. Then,
I saw pictures and video of him (not from the movie)
during the period of time around his arrest and trial, and
I saw the same shameful-innocent face which he wore in
prison. Here was a prisoner who was concerned not for what
he had done, but for what was going to happen to him. And
any sympathy I had had dissapeared.
I believe he was simply leading the Sister where he
wanted to take her- to show a woman, who has been taught and
thoroughly believes in redemption and the goodness of all
mankind, a false, or rather, contrived personality worthy of
sympathy.
Almost anyone, when faced with impending death, will
search for someone and reach out to them for comfort and
compassion. He did this with the Sister. It doesn't mean
he was reformed and deeply sorry about his acts. That he
wanted to keep his "dignity" at the end and not ask for
mercy from the parents shows a complete lack of humanity. I
sincerely believe if he had been allowed to live, someone
else would have been raped, tortured, and murdered at his
hands.
I am not the strongest believer in the death
penalty, but it seems our only viable choice at this time
to deal with such horrible people.
David Johnson
Student at Columbia College, New York
Dear FRONTLINE,
I would have to say that I was quite dissapointed in this
Frontline. I read the book "Dead Man Walking"and Sister Helen
Prejean is a far more multi-dimensional person about the issue
of the death penalty than you presented. She came across as a
typical "bleeding heart" totally sympathetic to the criminals
and not concerned with anything or anyone else.
In actuality, I felt that the strength of the book was that
she presented many sides of this very complex issue. Why didn't
you show how she has also set up programs for victim's rights?
Why didn't you mention that one of the ways she feels the death
penalty will be abolished is if criminals get harsher sentences
and spend more time in prison for their crimes-thereby letting
people feel safer without the death penalty? These are just
a few examples of how you could've presented her in a more
realistic way....sometimes simplification to fit into a one
hour time slot does not do justice to an issue. This is one
of those times.
Sincerely,
Jules Wertis
Dear FRONTLINE,
The death penalty survives in the United States of America, as other
nations reject such final solutions. The severity and frequency of crime
makes us as a people look for more permanent yet short term answers.
Education and proper care of all the people in this country would solve
this problem for centuries to come. Do we eliminate or educate?
Also, Denise Morris has a great strength. Even as a victim she questions the
value of state imposed death. How can a person suffer and not seek vengeance?
Sincerely,
M.O.
Dear FRONTLINE,
I agree with Mrs. Harvey. No one has the right take another
life but by his actions, Robert Willie and others like him
have given up their right to be regarded as decent and human.
I can not agree with Sister Prejean, as well intended as her
actions may be, she is devoting her time to those who prey on
society. Who is to stand for the victims and those left
behind? Where is the media blitz to show the pain and
suffering of the victims families. It seems that America does
not want to see the reality of these killers and speaks of
their right to be treated humanely. Did they treat their
victims humanely? Did they ever think of their victims rights
or feelings? No. I think if you want to be sure that it is
justice that is done then work on the court systems. Try to
make changes to help ensure that innocent people are not
sentenced to death. But when a person is so surely guilty of
such cruel deeds that an eye for an eye is not such a bad
thing. I must wonder how some of the right to lifers would
feel if it was their daughter or son.
C. Everett