Freedom

Freedom means many things to many people. Freedom in this country means that people are allowed to live their lives as they choose, taking responsibility for the choices they make and how they live their lives. Except for those who are under 18 years of age.

If you are under 18 you are not mature enough, responsible enough, and just don’t know enough to have adult freedoms. This is what our society believes.

If you are under 18 you cannot do something as profound as vote or something as simple as go to a local bar and have a drink, along with a host of other things that adults are free to do if they choose.

You are not treated as an adult unless you commit a crime, then all of a sudden you are thrust into the adult world yet still without all of the adult freedoms. Because of this one act, this one crime you are accused of you are now old enough to face the accusations and penalties as an adult, including being executed. Yet you still cannot vote, drink a beer and many other things that an adult can do.

Why is this? If you are old enough at 16 or 17 years old to face the Death Penalty then why can’t you have the freedoms that adults do?

If, as this society believes, you are not mature enough, responsible enough, and know enough at that age to have adult freedoms, then how can this society all of a sudden say you are an adult now and can be executed?

So again, I ask "What is freedom"?

Nathan Slaton Z-520
Holman 3700, 3-D-8
Atmore, AL 36503

Something to think about

Words from death row......

For a full list of articles written by Juveniles on Alabama's Death Row, go to the complete list of titles at Stories.