Sometimes the teacher shows up without announcing herself and without explaining that she is the teacher and you are the student. Twelve years ago, Darlene taught me a valuable lesson about discrimination and justice. I also learned that the most difficult advocacy work involves stopping to listen and being willing to look hard at ourselves. The story is full of irony. That, of course, is why it had such an impact on me.
Capital punishment is popular in the United States.
Thirty-eight states plus the federal military have death penalty laws. The death penalty is not so popular when it comes to people who have mental retardation. Even though an estimated 35 people with mental retardation have been executed under capital punishment laws since 1977, many states either do not allow such executions or are moving in that direction. In late April, Gov. Jane Hull signed a bill that bans the execution of criminals that have mental retardation. Senate Bill 1551 sets stringent requirements for demonstrating mental retardation, including evidence that the condition began before the defendant was 18 years old.