Volume 1 (1999/2000)
Issue
1 (March 1999)
Issue
2 (Nov. 1999)
Issue 3 (Dec. 1999)
Issue 4 (Feb. 2000)
Issue 5 (March 2000)
Issue 6 (April 2000)
Issue
7 (May 2000)
Volume 2 (2000/2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2000)
Issue 2 (Oct. 2000)
Issue 3 (Jan. 2001)
Issue 4 (March 2001)
Issue 5 (April 2001)
Issue 6 (May 2001)
Volume 3 (2001)
Issue 1 (Sept. 2001)
Issue 2 (Nov. 2001)
Categories
Sport: 1
2 3
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3
Commentary: 1 2
3
Review: 1 2
3
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Event: 1 2
3
Dead Man Walking
Holly Mack
Portmarnock Community School
Holly Mack is a pupil of Portmarnock Community School in Dublin. She is a regular contributor to Student Xpress.
Dead Man Walking by Sister Helen Prejean is a great read for all those
who wish to learn more about the death penalty and its use in the world
today. This book is a must for all intellectual, knowledge-craving readers
whether one is a supporter or not of the death penalty.
The book is an informative and true story about a nun who befriends a
Death Row prisoner who is waiting to be executed, hence the title: "Dead
Man Walking". It presents many statistics on capital punishment and
takes us through the story of this particular prisoner, whose name is
Elmo Patrick Sonnier, as he waits for death. The author presents all the
'ins-and-outs' of Death Row, the death penalty and the procedures of the
Angola Prison in Louisiana, America. This is all supported by the facts
concerning the case of Pat Sonnier.
"Dead Man Walking" considers all angles of the death penalty
and although may seem one-sided, it does offer much information that is
factual. It allows one to decide for one's self about capital punishment
and its implementation in countries of the world. For example, she makes
a good case that it would be nearly impossible to have the death penalty
in a country such as South Africa today. Through the story of Elmo Patrick
Sonnier and his "Spiritual Adviser" - Helen Prejean, we are
shown that the death penalty is proving less and less effective as the
years go by.
"Dead Man Walking" is a very well-written, intellectual and provoking book. It has an important lesson to teach and is informative and interesting. I recommend this book to all, as it proves to be a good read and teaches us about another element of our world that we might never even consider.