- Joined
- Aug 18, 2005
- Messages
- 294
That's right, I said it. Alot of people seem to be ecstatic at his execution, but I for one am not. I mourn his loss and feel sympathy for those who were closest to him.
Alot of you wonder why I would say this, and I feel it's only fair to explain myself. Alot of people see him as a murderous thug who founded one of the most violent and widespread gangs in the US today, who created a legacy of violence, of crime, of black on black genocide. Who murdered a group of innocent people for little than 100 dollars to support a drug habit. Did he do this ? Yes. But my take on what he did and who he was differs in one very critical aspect.
Alot of people think once a man has done wrong he should be punished and reviled for all times, they feel because he made a mistake he should be stripped of all rights as a human and suffer until his dying day. They forget that man isn't perfect, and that we all make mistakes, and that once a mistake is made, little can be done except to learn from it and try not to repeat it. As a friend, cousin, and nephew of men who are doing hard time, and who have done hard time, I see things very differently on this matter.
While everyone saw Stanley Williams as a monster, I saw him in a different light. I saw a man who like all men, made mistakes. The decisions he made to survive and gain respect living on the streets of LA ultimately cost him his freedom, and eventually his life. I saw a man who was able to finally realize what he had done, who he had become, and who was genuinely guilt stricken by the violent saga he and his fellow crips created, and went out of his way to redeem himself by undoing as much as he could, by showing kids what was waiting for them if they followed his footsteps, by doing what he had to do to keep children from sharing his fate. I saw a man who used his mistakes and went out of his way to show kids the ugly truth behind gang life, who made them understand the anatomy/mindframe of a gangster, and showed them the consequences of becoming one. I saw a man who gave his life as an ultimate reminder of what happens when you make the same decisions he made. I saw a man whose story will forever be used as a warning to today's youth of what happens when you live the "Thug Life." I sincerely believe that if a man does wrong, and he truly repents for his sins, then the powers that be will absolve him of any wrong doing, and his conscience and soul will be cleansed.
I"m sure that this won't change anyone's opinions, and I'm not trying to do that. But I have always had an admiration for men who once did alot of wrong, but repented and use their learnings as a lesson to those following, or thinking of following, in their footsteps. One of my long time friends and mentors, now doing hard time upstate, saved me in such a manner. Growing up (I first met him when I was 12) I admired him and wanted to be just like him, and he claims he'll "never forgive himself" for that as I came close to being just like him had he not opened up my eyes up to his world and motivated me to not end up like him. Many will see the execution of Stanley Williams as a fitting and well deserved punishment, but I will see his death as a lesson taught to the kids he was trying to reach. If his story deters a kid from joining a gang, or selling dope, or doing anything else that could land him in prison or a body bag, then that's one more kid that he will have saved. And when you think about it, that's truly all that mattered to him towards the end.
Andrew
Alot of you wonder why I would say this, and I feel it's only fair to explain myself. Alot of people see him as a murderous thug who founded one of the most violent and widespread gangs in the US today, who created a legacy of violence, of crime, of black on black genocide. Who murdered a group of innocent people for little than 100 dollars to support a drug habit. Did he do this ? Yes. But my take on what he did and who he was differs in one very critical aspect.
Alot of people think once a man has done wrong he should be punished and reviled for all times, they feel because he made a mistake he should be stripped of all rights as a human and suffer until his dying day. They forget that man isn't perfect, and that we all make mistakes, and that once a mistake is made, little can be done except to learn from it and try not to repeat it. As a friend, cousin, and nephew of men who are doing hard time, and who have done hard time, I see things very differently on this matter.
While everyone saw Stanley Williams as a monster, I saw him in a different light. I saw a man who like all men, made mistakes. The decisions he made to survive and gain respect living on the streets of LA ultimately cost him his freedom, and eventually his life. I saw a man who was able to finally realize what he had done, who he had become, and who was genuinely guilt stricken by the violent saga he and his fellow crips created, and went out of his way to redeem himself by undoing as much as he could, by showing kids what was waiting for them if they followed his footsteps, by doing what he had to do to keep children from sharing his fate. I saw a man who used his mistakes and went out of his way to show kids the ugly truth behind gang life, who made them understand the anatomy/mindframe of a gangster, and showed them the consequences of becoming one. I saw a man who gave his life as an ultimate reminder of what happens when you make the same decisions he made. I saw a man whose story will forever be used as a warning to today's youth of what happens when you live the "Thug Life." I sincerely believe that if a man does wrong, and he truly repents for his sins, then the powers that be will absolve him of any wrong doing, and his conscience and soul will be cleansed.
I"m sure that this won't change anyone's opinions, and I'm not trying to do that. But I have always had an admiration for men who once did alot of wrong, but repented and use their learnings as a lesson to those following, or thinking of following, in their footsteps. One of my long time friends and mentors, now doing hard time upstate, saved me in such a manner. Growing up (I first met him when I was 12) I admired him and wanted to be just like him, and he claims he'll "never forgive himself" for that as I came close to being just like him had he not opened up my eyes up to his world and motivated me to not end up like him. Many will see the execution of Stanley Williams as a fitting and well deserved punishment, but I will see his death as a lesson taught to the kids he was trying to reach. If his story deters a kid from joining a gang, or selling dope, or doing anything else that could land him in prison or a body bag, then that's one more kid that he will have saved. And when you think about it, that's truly all that mattered to him towards the end.
Andrew
There was no mistake. He intended to do what he did. How did murdering four non-violent, vulnerable people gain him street respect? You shoot a seated woman in the face, and you win admiration? 
