What a world we live in. First we abuse our children, then we teach them that killing killers is a good thing when killing is wrong in any case. No more compassion for life on any side of the coin while shoppers with their shopping carts look on as though nothing is wrong. No more integrity among human beings...was it ever there? We quit teaching our children to THINK. Now they will avoid the same with their children (our future on earth). Woe is me.... I so hate seeing the human race going down the tubes like this - it's not just Tookie's execution in a few hours, but all of it.

We - the human race on earth - are destroying ourselves from the inside, out....and so few even notice...too few. Hardly anyone remembers history and of course it has been foretold countless times that when people don't know history they are doomed to repeat it again and again and again and again....so that's what we are doing like a collective bunch of idiots.

The bright stars that do shine are so few.....they are mocked and they don't care about that and as long as they can keep breathing, they will continue working toward exposing the thoughtlessness of individuals, the corruption of individuals and strive for others to wake up soon. That is their goal and it is selfless for they receive no glory in that nor do they want it. They just care about how life is rotting away before their eyes at every corner, at every turn, and they do not want to see their children grow up in a world full of hate, revenge, despair, and injustice. They may be killed for speaking out but that doesn't kill their message.

May all those who have been living in blindness or with sight but wearing blinders to keep from seeing the truth about who we are, may they all open their eyes soon. There is so much potential waiting for the human race. I don't think I will live to see the turn around but maybe my grandchildren will. I hope so.

Blessings,
Sherry Swiney
www.patrickcrusade.org
Patrick Swiney-innocent in prison
www.patrickswiney.com

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"The mind once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas never returns to
its original size." - Oliver Holmes

"Words that don't match deeds are unimportant" - Che Guevara

"It's a good thing to have an open mind...just not so open your brains fall
out." - Bertrand Russell

Monday, December 12, 2005; Posted: 3:38 p.m. EST (20:38 GMT)

Editor's Note: CNN News Update is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents, producers and Wires.CNN editors.

Federal appeals court refuses to block Williams execution
SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (CNN) -- Convicted killer Stanley Tookie Williams looked to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for clemency Monday after a federal appeals court refused to block his scheduled execution.

Williams met with lawyers and his family at San Quentin State Prison, where the co-founder of the Crips street gang is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday (3:01 a.m. ET).

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals refused to stay the sentence Monday, rejecting an affidavit from Williams' lawyers that suggested the onetime gang leader was framed for the killings of four people during two 1979 robberies. (Posted 3:30 p.m.)

"It took a four-year civil war and a century of struggle after that before the promise of our Declaration (of Independence) was extended to all Americans," Bush said in a speech to the World Affairs Council.

"It is important to keep this history in mind as we look at the progress of freedom and democracy in Iraq. No nation in history has made the transition to a free society without facing challenges, setbacks and false starts."

In the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the country's Constitution debated, Bush said that strategy includes helping restore the Iraqi economy, building up Iraqi security forces to battle the insurgents and aiding the fledgling democracy in becoming a stable institution. (Posted 11:50 a.m.)

Jan Handzlik, one of Williams' attorneys, told CNN the defense was "disappointed" with Sunday's decision by the California Supreme Court to reject an appeal, but said his client was "cautiously optimistic" that

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger would grant a stay or clemency.

"We were very grateful that the governor held a private hearing to allow us to fully and completely state our position," Handzlik said on "American Morning." "Allowed both sides to do so. We feel optimistic and confident because we think that that Mr. Williams is worth much more alive than dead."

Handzlik offered no details about the new witness, but according to a copy of the declaration filed by Williams attorneys with the court, the witness' name was Gordon Bradbury von Ellerman, a jail trustee who had been incarcerated with Williams at the Los Angeles County Jail from 1979 to 1980. (Posted 10 a.m.)

The team, made up of Human Rights Ministry inspectors and representatives from the inspector general's offices of several other ministries, visited the facility on Dec. 8 and questioned 625 detainees "about their treatment, the quality of services received and their health."

Lt. Col. Guy Rudisill said U.S. forces were also part of the inspection team.

"The team discovered a number of problems, which the ministries of Interior and Human Rights are working together to correct," a statement from the Human Rights Ministry said. "The facility was overcrowded. ... Thirteen of the detainees were removed from the detention facility to receive medical treatment."

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Ja'afari, who ordered a series of inspections following the discovery last month of an Interior Ministry compound that held more than 160 prisoners, some of whom showed signs of torture, said, "We do not tolerate any violation of human rights for detainees." (Posted 7:14 a.m.)

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© Cristina Canciani 2005