I didn't really pay much attention when the hullabaloo first began over outgoing Mississippi Governor Haily Barbour's pardons. I began to pay attention when I heard his defense that the convicted murderers he pardoned had committed "crimes of passion". It was disturbing to learn that Mississippi has a history of tolerance for "crimes of passion." That's often code for "He killed his wife and she probably deserved it". It was a little disturbing to learn 8 of these men murdered their wives.
I didn't have much luck finding out how many of those pardoned were women. There was a wealthy woman who killed two doctors while driving drunk.
I do know who he did not pardon. He did not pardon Jamie and Gladys Scott, two sisters who were paroled last year on the condition that Gladys donate a kidney to Jamie.
Barbour defended his pardons by saying "You do not want to take away hope and the opportunity for a second chance, particularly when you see what our religion says," he said.
No doubt there is politics involved in these pardons as in all pardons. But there's an ugly undercurrent of sexism and misogyny going on here too, wrapped up in Christian smugness and fake piety. Like I said, I call bullshit.
Looks like you researched it more than some of the TV commentators.
ReplyDeleteWow. Looks like you called it pretty much by name.
ReplyDelete