Depriving a soul

Bill’s spiteful act would say a lot about our society

The day after Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Empire of Japan, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had the task of informing the Japanese ambassador, in writing, that a state of war immediately existed between the two men’s countries.

Churchill dispatched a clear but respectfully written note outlining the rea- sons the conflict would now play out. It’s formal, ceremonial tone — Churchill signed it “I have the honour to be, with high consid- eration, Sir, Your obedient servant” — drew criticism.

Later, in his recollections of the time, the great British statesman recalled how some did not care for the ceremonial tone of the letter. He, nonetheless, defended it.

“After all, when you have to kill a man it costs nothing to be polite,” Churchill said.

State Rep. Rebecca Petty of Rogers has never been apologetic that almost the entirety of her drive as a legislator comes from a desire to make changes in how criminals and their victims are treated. Who would expect her to be apologetic? Her daughter was raped and murdered in a wooded area near Mena in 1999 by a relative. Anyone who thinks that’s a “forgive and forget” circumstance is … well … let’s just say they expect too much.

We respect Petty’s ambition to help victims of crime and to use the power of state government to make sure violent people are dealt with in ways that protect all Arkansans.

But Petty should listen to Churchill.

She recently filed House Bill 1520, which seeks to ensure that the last meal of an inmate to be executed “shall be prepared by the Department of Correction from existing foodstuffs at the particularly facility housing the inmate and is limited to the same food choices a general population inmate at that facility has available … on the date of the execution.”

We have no doubt some Arkansans will give her idea a hardy “booyah,” a last-second rejection of a man’s wish for an extra pickle or a T-bone steak as the state prepares to let him meet his Maker. We, however, find the measure truly petty.

We don’t suggest a death-row inmate get a lavish meal of caviar and fresh Maine lobster, but how we treat those we condemn to die says far more about us than about them. Petty’s bill is spiteful and callous. In carrying out the orders of the American judicial system, especially in implementation of the ultimate punishment, is there no room for the slightest show of compassion in a man’s final moments? Shame on us if we allow the depravity of their crimes to erode our humanity.