On growing up to be an executioner.

I wonder what motivates an executioner. When does a guy or gal decide that he/she wants to be a professional executioner? In Texas, for instance. Where there have been 236 executions under Gov. Rick Perry. One might say that he's the executioner. Because he could grant clemency. Maybe he's another Pontius Pilate. He could well suspect that he's allowing an innocent man to die. And I'm assuming that some of the 236 were innocent. They didn't deserve to die. And Perry suspects it's so. But somebody in the judicial system decided they all deserved to die. Interesting, isn't it? That about half of the death row inmates in the USA are black. When only 10 percent of the population is black. Sounds like executions were designed for blacks. One is far more likely to be put to death if one is a black that murdered a white. Much better chance of getting off if one is white and the victim black. Better, too, if one can afford a fancy, expensive lawyer. Rich people seldom, if ever, get executed. Maybe because their lives are worth more. Or because money is power. Money buys favors. Anyway, I wonder how many kindergartners want to grow up to be executioners. Rather than firemen or president of the USA. At least, executioners don't go around bragging about their job. Publicly, that is. Maybe they go home and tell their spouses and children and friends about it. Or their psychiatrist. Maybe it's their favorite topic of private conversation. If they talked about it publicly, it'd make a good story. If they talked to me, I'd write about it. Right here in this blog. I'd like to know exactly how they feel about giving someone a lethal injection. If that's any easier than pulling a switch on an electric chair. Or putting a rope around someone's neck and tripping the trap door of the gallows. Or like in olden times, taking an axe and chopping off a head. I wonder if those executioners practiced by chopping wood. But then an innovative Frenchman invented the guillotine. And that made lopping off a head all the more efficient. But still, someone had to release the blade. Ah, so nice to know that I live in a civilized society. Where one can still grow up to be an executioner. --Jim Broede