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La Ultima Despedida (The Final Good-Bye)

Me duele aun el espiritu- déjame decirles que extraño es sentir un dolor tan fuerte por alguien que nunca he visto. Hablo sobre José Medellin y si me hubieran preguntado si algun dia tendria un amigo como el, yo nunca les creeria.

Pero ya me conocen por mi vida loca-- pasaria algo no muy comun.

Empeze mi conversacion con José en principios de Enero y fui absolutamente sorprendida por su inteligencia y humildad- sera que esos 14 años le dejo muchisimo tiempo para arrepentir su crimen.

Si, ya se lo que hizo a las victimas fue espeluznante, pero es igual de desesperante sabiendo que hemos recurrido a la pena de muerte. Esto no es justicia. Me da muchisisma tristeza que Jennifer y Elizabeth nunca les llego la oportunidad de una vida que merecian--y a veces eso me daba mas furia de lo que sufrio José.

Lo bueno es que el esta en un hermoso lugar en donde la gente no lo odia- quiza con unos angeles cantando sobre una cascada majestuosa..la verdad, no se como es el tal lugar ..pero si espero que encontro la paz aunque muchos deseaban su sangre. Mi pobre amigo, tanto que llore por ti, cuanto te extrañara tu familia...

Luchare por ti y por todos que estan [o estaban] en tu situacion para ya no tener muertes innecesarias . Esto podra ser mi ultima oportunidad de iniciar algun cambio...

Jennifer
Elizabeth
José
y desde hace unas horas, Heliberto Chi
Q.E.P.D.

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I'm still hurt- let me tell you how weird it is feeling such a tremendous loss over someone I've never met. I'm talking about José Medellin-- had you asked me in the past if I'd have a friend like him, I would never believe you.

But I'm known to have crazy things happen to me-- not everyday things.

I began my short but meaningful conversation with José at the beginning of January 2008 and I was absolutely surprised by his utter intelligence and humilty- it could be that those 14 years in prison left him more than enough time to think about his actions.

I know that what he did is horrifying, but it is equally frustrating knowing that we as a society resort to the death penalty as a means to bring closure. This is an injustice. It makes me truly sad knowing that Jennifer and Elizabeth never got the opportunity to live the lives that they deserved and many times that made me even more furious.

The good thing is that he [alongside his victims] are in a beautiful place where he is not bothered by people who hate him or insult him- perhaps with angels chanting over a majestic waterfall..to be honest, I can never know how this place is like, but I do hope that he found peace although many yearned for his blood. My dear friend, how much I did cry for you when I found out, your family will miss you always...

I will fight on your behalf and for everyone else who is [or was] in your situation so that we do not suffer the witnessing of unnecessary deaths. This could be my calling to leave a lasting impact here on Earth, and initiate some much needed change in our society...

Jennifer
Elizabeth
José
and now, Heliberto Chi
Rest in Peace

Of Blood, Nationality, and the Right to Life.

As Jose Medellin's execution for the 1993 rape and murder of two girls [alongside 5 other gang-members] looms over the horizon, tomorrow August 5th is a day of closure for some and a loss for others. Unfortunately, Medellin's high-profile case has made it extremely difficult for a stay of execution [as you can tell I am against the death penalty].

Being in close contact with the inmate, I've become interested in the trial itself and what the media has to portray-and I've come to the same [disillusioned] conclusion:

People are stupid- their arguments for supporting Medellin's death sentence is another excuse to push their racist and anti-immigrant agendas.

I ask that you go to Yahoo!, Google, or whatever and type in Jose Medellin- any Texan webnews will have a story on him-- read as you like but pay attention to the "Citizen's Column" AKA the comments. I read over and over on why "Mexico should work harder to close its borders and keep its people away from the U.S." Dozens of people commented on the inmate's "ILLEGAL" status.

I can't help but to think,"WOW people, think beyond his country of origin, and look at the matter at hand!"

Yet they continue spewing hatred and fear-- I am truly disappointed in the American people, no joke, for actually holding such destructive thoughts.If you're going to argue on something so great as someone else's life, make it smart and relevant, not unsubstantiated and so 18th century.