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Dead Man Walking 2 (Click to select text)
"Dead Man Walking" is a film that allows the viewer to see all angles of the matter at hand. That matter is a man's life. Is it morally correct to kill a man because he killed someone else? This question has been asked for decades and the answer changes a little every time it is asked. Ethically it is considered wrong because it takes the inalienable rights away from the person. This fact is involved in the approach to the answer this decade old question. Because this film does allow the viewer to see all angles involved in the story, it could change the viewers thoughts on the death penalty. Sister Helen Prejean is a Roman Catholic Nun living in a poor African-American neighborhood. She provides for others before she provides for herself. Sister Helen took a chance on Matthew Poncelet, a death row inmate who wanted help. Sister Helen visited wit Matthew and as he asked for help, she agreed. Sister Helen is an abolitionist, she does not believe inthe death penalty. Sister Helen's concerns with Matthew are about his life. She does find him a lawyer so he can try to appeal. She also councils him through his tribulations. She cares for him and does all she can to help him get his appeal in the court system. Although she does not succeed in her attempts to get Matthew off death row, she befriends him and helps him realize what he has done. She knows and understands that he needs help in more ways than one. Matthew did not want his mother to speak in court on his behalf, but Sister Helen helps him see that his mother has the right to do so. She helps him see that if his death sentence is carried out and his mother does not get to speak for her son it may be something she will regret for the rest of her life. Sister Helen's concerns are not only for Matthew, but also his family. She takes the time to inform Matthew's mother about the date set for his execution. She spends time with the family and tries to help the family come closer as Matthew's execution date approaches. During the appeal trial Mr. Delacriox, the father of the young boy who was killed, approaches Sister Helen and confronts her about what she is doing. He asks why she was not with his family during the time when he lost his son. Walter. He also asks about her helping Matthew. This occurrence brings Sister Helen's attention to the families of the murder victims. Sister Helen visits with both families and even attends a support meeting with Mr. Delacriox. When she visits with the Percys some conflict occurs. The Percys seened to think that Sister Helen had come to support their beliefs, when she had come to give support because she had some understanding of the ordeal in the family. As the film goes on, Matthew does not get off death row and asks Sister Helen to council him through his execution. Although she had never done this before she does agree to Matthew's wish. This experience is not an easy one for Sister Helen. Her concerns change toward the end of the film. Instead of trying to get Matthew off, which she does continue to do, her concerns change toward seeing that Matthew has redemption before his execution. She tells him the last thing she would like to hear from him is "I Love You". She makes sure that he promises to say those three words to her. As Sister Helen and Matthew walk to the execution chamber she reads passages to him from the Bible. She makes sure that he has been redeemed for what he did. Also a Matthew's final word he apologizes to the families of the victims. This shows that Matthew was sorry for what he had done. Sister Helen Prejean's stance was a good one. She had enough faith in Matthew to see that he would do the right thing. Her stance has not so much chnged my stance on the death penalty, but it has made me think about where I stand. Before viewing the film I strongly supported the death penalty, thinking Lex talionis or an "eye for an eye". I thought that someone who could kill should be killed. Like Matthew, when he was executed it didn't make what he had done okay. It only added another persons name to the execution list. Now, I thinkd "two wrongs don't make one right". Although murderers should be punished, maybe it should not be so drastic.
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