Birthday Stories

Early on in life, birthdays were somewhat traumatic for me. On my first birthday, I knew little of cake and I knew nothing of birthday candles or what purpose they were suppose to serve. As the cake was placed in front of me, larger than life, with it’s single dancing flame, I was so intrigued, I decided to reach out and grab it. I had little interest in the cake, or the party all together after that.

On my second birthday, I was a little better prepared. I already knew not to touch the fire, and I had been well coached that the candles must be blown out. People sung and the cake was brought. When the singing stopped I was instructed to blow of the candles. I stood up in my chair, to have a good vantage over the cake, took my deepest breath, and as I leaned in, so close that I was sure to fully extinguish the flames, my hair, which was of a haggy nature, hung clumsily down, and just barely, into the fire. My scream did, however, blow out the candles.

By my third birthday, I knew that fire was no joke. I had pleaded with my mom that candles wouldn’t be necessary, but she insisted and reassured me that I could do it this time. I just needed not to get so close. I was told that I could blow them out, without needing to lean in quite so close. I took her word on it and agreed, reluctantly to the candles. But when the cake came, with it’s three, bright-glowing, demons of fire, I made the choice to be safe rather than sorry. I blew with all my might, while leaning back as much as I could, with my head firmly planted against the back of the chair. They encouraged me to get closer, but I wasn’t buying it. Someone even tried to push my chair closer to help, but that just made me press myself harder in to the back of the chair. Finally, after several minutes of me blowing repeatedly, and refusing to get any closer to the cake, my father came over and blew the candles out himself. The cake was cut, and I was served my piece, and I was happy.

But on my fourth birthday, I had it down. I had been to other birthdays, and I had seen how it was suppose to be done and in one big sweeping wind, I exhausted the small army guarding my cake. I smile externally and internally as I ate, because I had finally won out over the enemy candles.

Quote of the day

“I guess he had too much Potato Salad yesterday.” -- Mavs Coach Avery Johnson, finding a reason for Desagana Diop poor performance Friday against Miami.

Here's a "Capital" idea

In the coming week the US will execute it’s 1000 prisoner since the death penalty was reestablished in 1977. And the debate rages on, as to whether or not we should continue to execute prisoners convicted of capital offenses.

Here are some facts on the death penalty:

- The US ranks 4th in the world for most executions, behind China, Iran, and Viet Nam (all of which are communist/dictatorship counties).

- The US executes more minors (under 18) than any other country in the world.

- Almost two-thirds of the rest of the world have abolished the death penalty in either law or practice (with some exceptions for war-time crimes).

- Texas executes more people than any other state. Harris County (Houston) executes more than any other county in the US.

- 12 US states have ended laws providing for the death penalty.

Arguments for the Death Penalty:
- It deters crime.
- It ensures that these people can never harm again.
- It is provided for in the bible.
- It provides justice to the family of victims.
- 68% of Americans approve of the death penalty in one capacity or another.


First of all, it is not a deterrent. In a recent report for the United Nations, surveys have shown that the threat of the death penalty does not deter persons any more that the threat of life imprisonment. And studies have shown, that in countries that have abolished the death penalty, there was not a rise in major crime. And, in fact, making adjustments in many other factors, such as education reform, or city beatification projects, have shown to have a greater impact on crime rates.

Yes, this does guarantee that they will never harm again, but so does a sentence of life in prison with possibility of parole. And what if they’re really innocent? Since 1973, 121 prisoners have been released after DNA test were able to prove their innocence. There has not yet been a documented case where the US did execute an innocent person, but with the number of people that have been released, some just days before execution, it’s asinine to assume that an innocent person has never been executed.

The Old Testament of the bible does condone use of the death penalty in a few place, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, for example. However, anyone who would actually use this argument is completely ignorant of the teachings of any major religion. Religions teach compassion and forgiveness, and though we must be able to protect ourselves by locking up criminals, we must likewise have compassion for the sanctity of their life, even if they would not have compassion toward us.

But, it does give a sense of justice served for the families of the victims. This is very true, many have said they wanted justice, or that they felt justice had been served, toward their respective family members. But a mistake is being made in assuming that revenge is justice. Revenge is not justice. And this concept has been taught by Jesus, Moses, Mohammad, Gandhi, Buddha, and many other important people. I mention these people, because there is no debating that our country is one that is very moral, and spiritual, and religious, and many of these figures provide the cornerstone for what are morals are based upon. So, if we are to assert that we are a moral nation, and if we want to distance ourselves from nations, which we often view as being immoral, such as China, Iran, and Viet Nam, then we should make a move to join the rest of the civilized world and end the death penalty.

However, 68% of Americans do support some form of the death penalty remaining in existence, and as we know, America is the greatest country ever (sarcasm), so maybe we should keep it around. At one time the majority of American approved of slavery, but that didn’t make it right. In the mid-1940‘s, the majority of Americans approved us putting the Japanese in internment camps, but that didn’t make it right. Just because the majority of people feel a certain way, doesn’t mean they are right. That is the beauty of our constitution, is it is designed with a concept called “majority rule, minority rights”. Even today, the majority of Americans think that most or all of the immigrants in the US should be deported, but again, that doesn’t make it right (I have some really good ideas and solutions to our illegal immigration problems, but that will come in a later essay).

There are a number of other arguments against capital punishment that I am not, yet, going to take the space to cover, but I hope a time comes soon, that our country can take a moral step forward, and end the death penalty.