Farewell, R.E.M. (and some other things on my mind)
Yesterday, R.E.M quietly announced, via their website, that they were officially breaking up. I feel a bit wistful about this: I know it's time (and maybe has BEEN time for several years) but it feels like a part of my youth and young adulthood has "died". I'm feeling a little bit melancholy, though I'm happy that they can at least call it quits on a creative and critical upswing. Their last two albums (Accelerate and Collapse Into Now) were quite good. Anyway, R.E.M left the scene the same way they spent their time in the scene: with grace and understatement. Godspeed, R.E.M. You were part of the soundtrack of my life.
Also yesterday, in news that is quite a bit more important than R.E.M.'s breakup, Troy Davis was executed in Georgia. I have to admit that I had no idea who he was until recently, when the controversy over his murder conviction and impending execution became front page news. After reading about this case, it seems quite obvious that there was extreme doubt concerning his guilt--in fact it seems like a complete miscarriage of justice. I have heard of way too many examples of people who have been given the death penalty when there was flimsy or questionable evidence regarding their guilt. Two prominent examples that come to mind immediately are the West Memphis Three and Randall Adams (whose case was presented in the outstanding documentary, The Thin Blue Line). Thankfully, the West Memphis Three and Randall Adams were spared. In any case, one life lost to the death penalty because of a faulty conviction is one life too many. The death penalty needs to be abolished.
And now for something completely different. I'm astounded that my post featuring Ron Swanson's speech (from Parks and Recreation) has garnered 950 views, based on Blogger's statistics. I'm sure those people were then disappointed to see how boring the rest of my blog is!
Also yesterday, in news that is quite a bit more important than R.E.M.'s breakup, Troy Davis was executed in Georgia. I have to admit that I had no idea who he was until recently, when the controversy over his murder conviction and impending execution became front page news. After reading about this case, it seems quite obvious that there was extreme doubt concerning his guilt--in fact it seems like a complete miscarriage of justice. I have heard of way too many examples of people who have been given the death penalty when there was flimsy or questionable evidence regarding their guilt. Two prominent examples that come to mind immediately are the West Memphis Three and Randall Adams (whose case was presented in the outstanding documentary, The Thin Blue Line). Thankfully, the West Memphis Three and Randall Adams were spared. In any case, one life lost to the death penalty because of a faulty conviction is one life too many. The death penalty needs to be abolished.
And now for something completely different. I'm astounded that my post featuring Ron Swanson's speech (from Parks and Recreation) has garnered 950 views, based on Blogger's statistics. I'm sure those people were then disappointed to see how boring the rest of my blog is!
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