Forgive us, for we know not what we do

30 minutes ago, my government, the state of Georgia, crucified (by lethal injection) a convict named Troy Davis. 2,011 years ago, my ancestors' government, the Roman Empire, crucified a convict named Jesus. It never ceases to amaze me that Christians can put so much faith into executing capital punishment, when our own God was wrongly accused, convicted and murdered by a criminal justice system.

And what if our system is right this time, and the convicted is also guilty of the heinous crime? Well, my hope is in salvation - and that's where Jesus is too:

"One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’" - Luke 23

There is grace for you, Troy Davis. I'm just sorry we were too broken to offer it to you on earth as it is in heaven.

Rest in peace.

White Crucifixion. Marc Chagall 1938