Reader comments on
Subject: A thought from Denmark
Date: Mar 29, 2004
Hi Pam.
I«m a danish guy, who just saw the documentary a few minutes ago. Please forgive me, if my english isn«t so good, but I will try to translate my thoughts the best that I can.
Sitting here in a small country in northern Europe, it is hard to believe, that a society like the american, can actually work. In more than one way, there is an ocean between us, and that actually makes me sad. It makes me sad, because here in Denmark we have a justice system that is fair to both the victims as well as the criminals, and when I see the american justice system I think: this can not be true!
How can a country use the death penalty, when its justice system is so wrong and unfair? There is only justice for people, who are rich enough to use the best lawyers. If you don«t have money, you can only take a chance on hope and prayers.
One of many problems with the death penalty is, that there is always the possibility of killing an innocent person. How can the american society live with this risk? I agree with the persons that believe that killing is wrong nomatter who the killer is. It«s barbaric and a symbol of ancient ways of punishing criminals.
I was shocked when I saw this documentary on Wanda Jean Allen, and her fight for survival. Shocked beacuse it was clear that many mistakes was made during the trial. How could it be?
I truly admire the spirit of Wanda and her family and lawyers, who fought to the end. My heart goes out to them in respect!
Here in Denmark we have a term, that we use to describe our fears for our society: "we fear, that we will have american conditions in Denmark"... If violent crime is going up one year, we describe it as "an american development". It makes you think, right?
I have never understood why so many people are killed in the US. Of course the US is bigger than Denmark, but there are 5.6 million people in Denmark and only 60-70 people are killed/murdered each year.
One of the reasons for you high crime could be, that the criminals know that they risk being sentenced to 10-20 years for many kind of crimes. When they know this konsequence, they will do anything they can to avoid getting caught. Even killing innocent people, who gets in their way.
I pray for your society, and hope that one day you will experience som "danish development" in your society ;-)
I hope that the death penalty will be stopped, and I hope that the american justice system will develope to be a just system for all americans.
I hope I have made myself understandable, and that it makes a little sence.
Lars Nielsen
Denmark, Scandinavia
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This woman has touched many
She could have never known how many lives she would touch through this documentary I cried like a baby and yes, I agree Wanda should have had her sentence commuted to life without the possibility of parole. Society can not afford to let a person who can not stop themselves from getting so angry that they are in a blind rage shooting and killing like it is the wild wild west out in the "free world" .(lets not forget in her first murder it was found that not only did she kill this childhood friend but she pistol whipped her and then shot her at close range) Had she been given help early on when she was first found to be retarded we as a society would most likely never have heard of Wanda Jean Allen. She would have been taught how to control urges, positively deal with circumstances and not act out when things don't go her way. The system failed her a long time ago. She was in foster care during her adolesence, shouldn't she have gotten some help then? Having been a child in the system I am not surprised. Having said all this please do not misunderstand me, this documentary has changed my life. Wanda Jean has touched my life long after she took her last breath. The image of her in her casket will be burned in my memory forever. I will be a better human being because of her. Most importantly she has touched many lives. Without her I am certain that I would have never found this site or you people who basically agree on this subject. If anybody knows where I can get a video or dvd of this let me know. Feel free to email me.
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Comment index:
So Sad from Patricia A. Cappo, Apr 29, 2003
So Sad from Carmesha, Jun 14, 2003
i'm sorry from shelia washington, Jul 4, 2003
death from senecia jones, Jul 29, 2003
so sad from Patricia, Haiti, Oct 1, 2003
wanda jean from delpizerre, jean-marie, Oct 19, 2003
Wanda... from Nadia Hopkins, Nov 29, 2003
Why? from Renee', Mar 2, 2004
» A thought from Denmark « from Lars Nielsen, Mar 29, 2004
It's awful from Mette L. O. Andersen, Mar 29, 2004
Captivated from Matt in West Virginia, Nov 24, 2004
fairness from false evidence, Nov 24, 2004
why ? from santonio, Jan 17, 2006
g'bye from billy thornton, Mar 15, 2006
wanda from hfh, Sep 27, 2008
So Sad from Patricia A. Cappo, Apr 29, 2003
So Sad from Carmesha, Jun 14, 2003
i'm sorry from shelia washington, Jul 4, 2003
death from senecia jones, Jul 29, 2003
so sad from Patricia, Haiti, Oct 1, 2003
wanda jean from delpizerre, jean-marie, Oct 19, 2003
Wanda... from Nadia Hopkins, Nov 29, 2003
Why? from Renee', Mar 2, 2004
» A thought from Denmark « from Lars Nielsen, Mar 29, 2004
It's awful from Mette L. O. Andersen, Mar 29, 2004
Captivated from Matt in West Virginia, Nov 24, 2004
fairness from false evidence, Nov 24, 2004
why ? from santonio, Jan 17, 2006
g'bye from billy thornton, Mar 15, 2006
wanda from hfh, Sep 27, 2008
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