Fuck You, Texas You Evil Shithole

By on August 7, 2012 in Fascism, Uncategorized

A Texas man convicted of killing a police informant has been executed after the US supreme court rejected arguments that he was too mentally impaired to receive the death penalty.

Marvin Wilson, 54, was pronounced dead 14 minutes after his lethal injection began at the state prison in Huntsville on Tuesday night. Wilson’s attorneys had argued that he should have been exempt from capital punishment because of his low IQ.

Before the lethal drugs were administered Wilson smiled and raised his head from the death-chamber gurney, nodding to his three sisters and son as they watched through a window a few metres away. He told them several times that he loved them and asked that they give his mother “a big hug”.

“Y’all do understand that I came here a sinner and leaving a saint,” he said. “Take me home Jesus, take me home Lord, take me home Lord!”

More here.

About Stephen Whitworth

Stephen Whitworth is a life-long fan of newspapers and alternative media who got his start in the student press a hundred years ago. He moved to Regina in the fall of 1998 and Prairie Dog recklessly hired him nine months later. It was a terrible mistake and the publication deeply regrets its inability to get rid of him. When Whitworth’s not adding typos to the hard work of Prairie Dog’s many terrific writers, writing hilarious (to him) headlines and finding inventive new ways to make the paper late for its bi-weekly press deadline, he enjoys reading magazines, newspapers and alternative comics, listening to music, playing board games, and drinking and eating. He has a cat and seven six pet snakes (R.I.P, Fred).
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9 Responses to Fuck You, Texas You Evil Shithole

  1. anonymous August 8, 2012 at 10:55 am #

    While I too deplore the death penalty, I actually found the Texans I met on a trip to Austin a few years back unbelievably friendly, surprisingly knowledgeable about Canada and very much in tune with the finer points of their communities (like the arts, architecture, sustainability etc.)…and while I didn’t end up discussing the finer points of political issues like the death penalty, I’m sure many in that state have issues with it. Like Steve Earle for one. So while I know you have trouble resisting Tourettes-like taglines to quell your rage (or get in touch with your inner 12 year old?) I’d hate to generalize ALL of Texas as a fist-pumping mass of death-penalty advocates. So maybe enlighten me…exactly what does a tagline like “Fuck You, Texas You Evil Shithole” set out to accomplish or attempt to impress? Perhaps the editor needs an editor.

  2. Dave August 8, 2012 at 12:17 pm #

    Mr. Wilson’s appeal was based around one test done in 2004 which showed that he had an IQ of 61 (below the usual cut off of 71). The state attorney argued that Wilson’s claim was based on a single possibly faulty test and that his mental impairment claim was not supported by other tests and assessments over the years.

    This seems like a sensible argument to make consider that Mr. Wilson was competent enough to have a child and had been arrested previously for robbery and possessing cocaine. He seems to have a lifetime of higher functionality than that one outlier test would suggest.

    I don’t agree with the death penalty, but i think it’s a huge stretch to think that someone would feel “bottomless grief” over the loss of Mr. Wilson, or that Mr. Wilson’s execution makes Texas a “fascist state” or an “evil shithole”.

  3. Bronymous August 8, 2012 at 1:38 pm #

    I think Saskatchewan is probably more similar to Texas than we’d like to admit.

  4. Barb Saylor August 8, 2012 at 1:54 pm #

    Bang on, anonymous #1. This tantrum thingy is getting OLD.

  5. Stephen Whitworth August 8, 2012 at 2:58 pm #

    I am extremely comfortable with my quite reasonable outburst at a jurisdiction that murders disabled people. I am also well aware that many Texans are terrific (I hear Austin is incredible) and I’m sure many, many good Texans share my outrage today.

    Someone needs to say things like “Fuck You Texas You Evil Shithole”. I am pleased to volunteer.

  6. Bronymous August 9, 2012 at 8:27 am #

    Texas just replied back with “I know you are, but what am I?”

  7. anonymous August 9, 2012 at 10:26 am #

    I think bronymous’ sparkle of wit about sums it up. Moving on…

  8. Bronymous August 9, 2012 at 1:38 pm #

    Post-script:

    We really aren’t that different. A city in Texas just built a football stadium for $60 million.

    The stadium is for HIGH SCHOOL football.

    http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2012/08/the-new-high-school-football-stadium-in-allen-texas-will-blow-your-mind/

  9. Ron August 10, 2012 at 12:02 am #

    #8 Thanks for the Allen TX. stadium link.

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