Robert Jean Hudson +

Robert Hudson has  been executed on November 20, 2008

 

our thoughts go to his wife Chantal

 

Dear Friends, Activists and prospective penfriends. Greetings from Texas Death Row, or should we call it Texas's life row? I say this because being here in this place, a person goes through a life changing experience one way or the other. He or she tends to learn the true "meaning of life" and sees all life as meaningful and precious. Or he tends to go inside himself and start to hate all that is good and right with humankind. The diversity of its people and the beauty of it. It's a reason we are all different, and that difference bring joy not sorrow to the world. And that's what this isolation and deprivation takes away from you. Your humanest. And then it tends to drive you insane. I know that's a painful thought but I see it everyday. Now, I'd like to thank you all, the good and decent people of our world for your tireless sacrifices. You all make these sacrifices every year in the name of life, liberty and true justice. Because justice is not a reaction to an injustice, but a standard by which we prove that an injustice has occured. And we all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the death penalty is a grave injustice... So now we take the country with the greatest might on the face of the planet, shouldn't it also have the greatest capacity for compassion? This is the government that is suppose to be "of the people, for the people, and by the people", right? But somewhere this translation has been lost. Now it's all about "of the money, by the money, for the money". And if you don't have any of this, then you are on the outside looking it. Now life has come to this in the year 2007. Now this is ashame. Because I thought we as a people had left the dark times in the past. However, because of good people around the world like you, we on death row have hope, and can look forward to a better tomorrow where one doesn't have to worry about a state sanctioning the deaths of its own citizens, just to further the political agendas and careers of another. Because, this is all the death penalty is, a political tool for politicians to use. And by abolishing the death penalty, you take that tool away from them and they don't want that. But we will one day abolish the death penalty worldwide, and bring together all humankind into the light of day. And this starts with the unity, and a oneness of all humankind pulling together for a common goal. I have been sitting on death row for seven years, and I have lost a host of loved ones and family members, including my father. But I don't hate anyone for everything, because the world was set in motion before we all were even thought of, so I look to change my predicament through positive thinking and the love of others, who know that this is a wrong situation for the wrong reasons. And death is an extreme that no one deserves. I wouldn't wish this heavy a burden on my worst enemy. Because no one should have to suffer this kind of punishment. So who's the demon here?