Thursday , February 1, 1996
John Rossomando
Collegian Staff
At the beginning of the twentieth
century Pope Pius X warned all of
Western culture about the dangers of
rationalism and materialism.
This great Pope warned that if these
forces in Western culture went unchecked,
they would enslave us all and we would
not be able to free ourselves from them
,and ultimately Pius X's warning has
proven to be true. Ultimately, the very
institutions that comprise Western
civilization have collapsed under the
weight of aggressive materialism and
rationalism.
Under the influences of Marxism,
scientism. , and existentialism. Western
culture gradually turned away from God
and embraced materialism and to a certain
extent hedonism.
The scientific and industrial
revolutions of the 19th century brought
with them the idea that humanity was an
end unto itself, and therefore
infinitclyperfectable, both socially and
scientifically \y,ithtuil.lfte need for God.
Humanity's dream of becoming God in the
twentieth century has resulted in our
enslavement by an ecological and social
nightmare.
The anti-theistic and anti-Christian
climate of the 19th century reached its
horrible climax in the horrors of Soviet
Russia and Nazi Germany. It is most
interesting that both the Nazis and
Communists rejected the Judeo-Christian
concept of God and instead worshipped
paganism and atheism. More people
perished under their rule than in every
religious war combined, an estimated 50
! .-Hnfeiii&r
Americans remained isolated for the
most part from the social and political
upheavals occurring in Europe until after
World War 11. After the war Americans
Execution by firing squad
by Mary Began
Collegian Staff
A death penalty sentencing took effect on
Friday, January 26, 1996 in Drapper's
Uinta Prison Complex in Utah. The
decision for the means of death was severe:
execution by firing squad, but was it none
too severe for multiple child-killer John
Albert Taylor?
In actuality, was it he who chose the
means by which he died; he did not opt for
lethal injection because he "didn't want to
lay on the table and flip around like a fish
out of water.” Utah politicans were not
entertained by this choice; they preferred a
more "acceptable and modem” image for the
state than- that, of nineteenth century
remnant firing squads.
Preparations for this type of execution
were extensive and complicated. Five
anonymous volunteer peace officers acted as
shooters with one rifleman receiving a
blank to ensure sanity that any one's shot
was not fatal. .30-.30 rifles loaded by a
state offical with standard .30-caliber
hunting ammunition were used and placed
on a gun portal enclosed 20 feet from
Taylor where the shooters were lined up.
Fully practiced in choreography, the firing
Isolation
Too severe for multiple child killer
John Albert Taylor?
grew more and more materialistic just as
the Western Europeans had done before
them.
Soon materialism consumed America,
and by the 1960's “God is dead” became
the predominant ethos for many
Americans. It is interesting to note that as
Americans became more materialistic and
less religious ,the crime and illegitcmacy
rale increased right along with it.
In 1940 the Bureau of Vital Statistics
reported that there were 90 thousand
illegitimate births nationally, and by 1990
it had risen to 1.65 million nationally. In
1940 twice as many people as a percentage
of the entire population claimed to possess
a deep religious conviction.
According to the Statistical Abstract of
the United States there were 9225
homicides in 1963, and by 1993 it had
risen to 23,271 nationwide, a 40 percent
increase.
The loss of a sense of responsibility to
God has resulted in the ultimate loss of
regard for the well being of other human
beings.
Materialism has brought selfishness and
greed. Without the concept of God, people
come to believe that they are responsible
to no one, and therefore can construct their
own idea of morality. Look at what moral
relativism has done to our society. You
don't think that you are responsible for
these trends, but look what happens when
millions of people do their own thing
without regards to the results.
Contrary to this dangerous atheistic
worldview, there is an absolute source of
law and morality. Everything in nature
including man is governed by various
innate laws. For example, every star in the
sky burns brightly because of natural
law;s ? .crga4iFcs arqfjqrp O/
natural laws. All things in the universe act
and react because of definite laws that
govern it.
These laws can be known by all through
reason that has been enlightened by faith.
squad bad been trained for the routine of
aiming and shooting together. The
execution occured in a temporarily closed
warehouse used by prisoners to make
clothipg with the execution chamber which
held Taylor set up ahead of time. This
chamber contained a chair to which Taylor
was strapped by the arms and legs so as to
avoid any slumping or slouching of the
body. A large metal pan was placed under
this chair in order to enclose any
"remnants" of the execution.
As many reporters were rushing to the
prison complex, there were only three
groups of witnesses allowed to enter, each
hidden from'the other group. Nine
journalists, five government witnesses, and
three people specially chosen by Taylor
were granted access to the facility.
As the execution date loomrd over
Taylor, he was supervised while in a
special holding cell to ensure proper safety
up until the day of his execution. He was
allowed freedom of choice for his last meal
Opinion
from God
Faith is a free gift from God dial not every
one possesses.
Human truths or perceptions, meaning
the idea that all truth is relative cannot be
true because all of these so-called truths
arc contradictory. This by definition
cannot be truth. What was true a billion
years ago is true today and always will be.
The Webster’s Collicgiate Dictionary
defines truth as, “The property, as of a
statement being in accord with precise
facts or reality.”
If the existence of definite universal
truths is in all of creation, then it is sale
to logically reason that men and women
arc part of this creation and therefore
subject to its laws. Because all things need
an initial mover, we can therefore reason
that creation cannot exist of its own
accord. Therefore, there must be a Creator
The loss of a sense
of responsibility to
God has resulted
in the ultimate loss
of regard for the
well being of other
human beings.
out of necessity for the existance of this
Creation.
Human reason is not an end unto itself
because truth existed even before humanity
but certain liquors were not permitted.
Two minutes were granted for his last
words, with TVs and video cameras strictly
forbidden. One good thing came from this
fiasco: Taylor had offered his remaining
intact organs for transplants.
Yet the main issue keeps posing a
problem to Utah, with a bill already
proposed by one legislator - should firing
squad executions be banned? Are they too
barbaric for such a scientifically and
"humanely" advanced community?
Without even considering the moral
debate over whether the death penalty
should be legal, a normal person could
logically assume and decipher as to why
death by firing squad should or should not
be lawful. Reasons for execution by
gunshots (as considered by the prisoner):
Person's own individual and free right as to
that choice, and a quick and easy death, or
as Taylor stated so eloquently, no "flopping
around on a table." Reasons for execution
by other means: more humane way of
dying and with less mess to clean up
ever existed. It is not t .pendent upon
human reason or intellect .0 understand it
or comprehend it.
One such concept is infinity. We know
it exists, but we cannot understand it or
ever hope to.
It is the same with God. He is and
always will be. Revelation 22:13 states, ”1
am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and
the last, the beginning and the end.” It is
impossible for scientists to prove God’s
existence on their terms because he is
incomprchendable ,and his existence is not
dependent upon their small human minds.
St. Augustine said it rightly when he
stated, “As we conceive truth, ’Twice two
equals four’, everywhere. This truth is
independent of all limitations of lime and
space. It is whole and undivided
everywhere. It would be present without
change to the minds of myriads of other
worlds if they should be created at this
moment. It would receive them into its
presence rather than they it, and would no
more be bounded by them than it was
before. Now in place of abstract truth of
the Substantial Truth, God, and you will
have a true concept of his immcnscncss
and omnipresence.”
Man unlike God cannot exist and
infinitum therefore he cannot be of his
own creation. St. Thomas Aquinas says,
“The Father is of Himself, because He is
not from another.”
Man cannot be truth for as John 8:44
says, “You are from your Father the devil,
and the desires of your Father you will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning,
and he had no truth because it was not in
him.” To deny God is to deny Truth. “I
am the way the Truth, and the Light.” I
anyone believes they are their own God ,1
ask them if they their own creation and are
you eternal.”
“The fool says in his heart ,there is no
God.” Be warned that there are mysteries
beyond human understanding. In the end
we shall be judged according to our works
(Rev 20:12).
afterwards.
Here's the problem, arc we to consider
the execution’s feelings or the
executioner's? Some argue that as a
prisoner on death row, one has no rights.
Yet some prisoners who are awaiting
impending death want the right to choose
their fate as to their final days on earth.
Even still, some people feel that it is no
one s right to choose or to make such a
decision; the outcome should be left to a
higher power. Most officals don't want to
deal with grief laying heavy on their heart
knowing that they killed someone, that is
why the use of a blank is in progress.
Other officals don't want to be the ones
cleaning up after death in such a grisly
manner. That 100, is a problem for Utah -
the appearance of being less than human, or
at least letting someone die that barbaric
way. With today's innovative techniques,
why allow death to endure such an old
fashioned procedure?
The answer can never be solved until
those of high power cast their moral
judgement upon firing squad executions.
As for my stance, I go with the big picture:
I believe the death penally is wrong, firing
squads being no exception; yet, "even in
the midst of life, we arc in dealh
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