Retribution Does Not Serve Justice Or Felicia’s Memory Letter Of The Week: From Jan. 18

Mon., Jan. 30, 1995

Will there never be enough killing to satisfy this town?

It is frightening to hear again from the “good” people who want to kill “bad” people to show that killing people will not be tolerated. That’s part of the cycle of violence, and the cycle of violence is the primary cause of life-destroying brutality in our state and community.

The name of Felicia Reese is invoked to demand violence against her killers. What a travesty! How do people remember her? As a lovely and loving young woman or as a bloodthirsty advocate of retribution?

The cry is, “Don’t forget Felicia.” But in the rush to accuse the dazed children accused of murdering her, she may well be forgotten. When capital punishment rules, the victims are forgotten long before the execution.

Name the victims of Westley Dodd and Chuck Campbell. The ghosts of the hanged victims of state violence are still with us, mocking our system of revenge that allocates millions for punishment, pennies for public security, and absolutely nothing for reconciliation and community-building.

Shall the cousins Boot be awarded the heady status of the legendary Dodd and Campbell, perhaps the only American dream they ever felt was open to them? Or shall they be relegated to the obscurity of long-term incarceration with opportunities for regret and a degree of maturity?

If our choice is to repeat the crime, we embrace the alleged values of the Boots and reject the values attributed to Felicia. That’s not justice. It’s a sin.

Rusty Nelson

Spokane

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Retribution Does Not Serve Justice Or Felicia’s Memory Letter Of The Week: From Jan. 18

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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