Good news! Troy Anthony Davis has been given a stay of execution by the federal appeals court. Tom Dunn, one of Davis’ lawyers: I am extremely relieved that the 11th Circuit, when addressed with such a grave issue as the innocence of a man set for execution, wants to hear argument and make a considered judgment
. Let’s hope this leads to a new hearing. This is the quintessential example of why the death penalty needs to end. As I said in my previous post on the subject, here in Britain, it’s gone and it’s not missed.
Meera Nanda: My nephew told me that he was coming straight from the temple where he had taken his car for a “vahan puja,” a brand new Hindu ritual invented to bless the new vehicles that are clogging the Indian roads these days. This being his first car - and the object of his loving devotion, at least for now - my nephew told me that he wanted to do something really, really, special for it. That is why, he told me, he took it to the temple where he had to shell out some serious cash for the ceremony, instead of getting a free puja which his dealership had offered as a part of the incentive package.
