On what must have been a dark day in the first century, leaders of the Roman Empire began loading exotic animals into crates. Lions, leopards and crocodiles were led down ancient routes. Via Salaria, the “Salt Road,” and Via Latina…
Pete Hegseth’s gospel of violence
The last widely recognized public execution in the United States took place on Aug. 14, 1936, in Owensboro, Ky. Rainey Bethea, a 22-year-old Black man, was hanged before an estimated crowd of 20,000 people. Bethea had been accused of raping…
Justice does not require spectators
Nearly 20 years ago, I opposed the execution of Saddam Hussein. Not because I believed Hussein was innocent. His regime was responsible for brutality, repression, torture and death on a staggering scale. I opposed his execution because I could not…
Go ahead and livestream that firing squad execution!
I’m glad Pete Hegseth wants to livestream the firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan. Not because I support the death penalty; I don’t. And not because I think firing squads are humane; they’re not. And not because I think…