Killing McVeigh: The Death Penalty and the Myth of Closure

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The Critical Crimi- nologist 2 3: New York, ; pp.: The myth of closure is a warning that we must not wall ourselves within false comfort, using as building blocks sacred narratives of remembrance that honor our pasts but do little to protect our futures. Indeed, when it comes to the family members of those lost to senseless violence, the likely response of most abolitionists who have not suffered such a horrifying experience, is to move away from emotions altogether to a discussion of the racist, inhumane, and utterly undemocratic practice of state killing that is so well documented in the literature e.

Ogleetree and Sarat, Yet it is unlikely that most would read the above quotation and think that the author was referring to the experiences of survivors and family members of victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. This is precisely the kind of atrocity that abolitionists, includ- ing the author, at least before having read this book, will quickly refute as extreme anom- alies that cannot set the terms of any cogent debate.

Indeed, hundreds of mil- lions of citizens shared in the collective horror of these events through saturation media coverage and the investigation to track down Timothy McVeigh and his co-conspirators, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier. Still this is not the case most abolitionists would want to debate. Indeed, in addition to the execution of McVeigh the case led to the subse- quent passage of arguably one of the most aggressive pieces of federal legislation in recent history, the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act AEDPA of It is obvious the author has a deep empathy for the 33 survivors and family members she interviews.

The book is comprised of 11 substantive chapters and a conclusion divided into three parts. In contrast, the survivors and family members of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing are emotionally abandoned by the legal system. What makes Killing McVeigh so useful to both upper level undergraduate and graduate seminars on capital punishment, victims, and collective memory? For one, never once does Madeira resort to hyperbole in her presentation of the remarkably candid and rich interview responses she has collected. Start reading Killing McVeigh: Don't have a Kindle?

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The Death Penalty and the Myth of Closure

Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. If I had wanted to read a textbook on closure after a traumatic event I would have done it in school.

This reads like a psychology academic book so if you want that great if you want info on the event itself as a part of history this is not for you. One person found this helpful. This has to be one of the most comprehensive book written about the victims families and survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing incident. Madeira, an attorney, skillfully goes inside their minds and extracts raw, heartfelt and honest, never-before-heard stories of that fateful day and its aftermath. It's an academic, intelligent exploration into the lives of those survivors and the victims families touching on issues I never even thought about.

For instance the conflict between those who actually suffered the death of a loved one and those who escaped death. I felt like I got up close and personal as I read their sad, yet powerful stories. Maderia must have had the full trust, faith and confidence of the victims to have them open up with such honesty.

Intelligently written, and expertly crafted this book opens one's mind to issues that explore what exactly is "closure" and what are the processes of healing. Issues such as "survivor's guilt" and to what extent the execution brought satisfaction to those involved are thoroughly examined.

If you want to go beyond the headlines and understand the variety of coping mechanisms, the pain, loss and inner-strength and personal stories of those that suffered in one of the worst acts of terror in our nation's history, this book is for you. The title encapsulates the book. That is not my way of saying that the book is not worth reading! Indeed, I give the book 5 stars for what it does provide - and how it does explore its content! The book is a somber reflection on the fact that - for some healing to become reality for victims - other ways of narrating their lives, re-membering [sic] their identity and reconstituting their future need to become viable - set over against the myth that taking another life brings life back for those who have lost a loved one!

This book confirms with its case-study - and with keen insight from Jody Lynee Madeira, what she has learned about the inability to find closure, as she says, "this side of the grave" page For Madiera, closure must include many things including, "learning to live with new, gaping, painful holes in one's life. Madiera achieves her purpose.

The book is good. And, for an attorney presenting the "facts" - the book is helpful. And yet, I was left frustrated with her full analysis and her final paragraphs. I have a vested interest in issues of remembrance, reconciliation and peacemaking - with work I engage in University, Counseling, and Pastoral settings in Oklahoma City.

I lived in Oklahoma City in - and heard the bomb explode from miles away, April 19, I have lived again in Oklahoma for the past 15 years. After careful analysis including her own prescriptions much earlier in the book she includes an entire section on forgiveness, page ff , Madiera's perspective ends with her belief that closure cannot come "this side of the grave" and the fact that "never again" is a "fairy-tale.

In this respect, for example, I felt Madiera's presentation of Bud Welch as one example was lacking, given the ample evidence of his story made available elsewhere, but presented without great nuance by Madiera. Bud's statement, for example, demonstrates that he did come to certain "closures" after the bombing, "I was opposed to the death penalty all my life until my daughter Julie Marie was killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.

For many months after the bombing I could have killed Timothy McVeigh myself.

Killing McVeigh

Temporary insanity is real, and I have lived it. You can't think of enough adjectives to describe the rage, revenge, and hate I felt. But after time, I was able to examine my conscience, and I realized that if McVeigh is put to death, it won't help me in the healing process. People talk about executions bringing closure. But how can there be closure when my little girl is never coming back.

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I finally realized that the death penalty is all about revenge and hate, and revenge and hate are why Julie Marie and others are dead. See all 3 reviews. Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more about Amazon Giveaway.

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