Tyranny of Uncertainty: Kenneth Smith, Nitrogen Hypoxia & I
There is no tyranny greater than the tyranny of uncertainty. When you can hold all possibilities…you are able to hold all fears…and when you hold all fears you are able to hold all control. In recent months, the State of Alabama has refused to share even the simplest of evidence of safety precautions that they have in place for the first nitrogen hypoxia execution. We know about as much about the execution of Kenny Smith as we did when it was first announced that the State was going to pursue this new form of nitrogen hypoxia. Uncertainty reigns.
When I agreed to be Kenny Smith’s spiritual advisor, I did so because I didn’t want him to be alone in the darkest hour of his life. As such an hour approaches, my motivation remains Kenny. Though this is a very dangerous method of execution, I keep my focus on Kenny.
Danger. We know that the nitrogen will flow into the mask. We know that there will be nitrogen that comes out of the mask. We know that nitrogen can fill up a room. We know that when nitrogen fills up a room, it is deadly. A human being cannot breathe pure nitrogen without repercussions. We need oxygen. This is truth.
Truth is the only thing that can give us breath. Right now, through their secrecy, their redacted protocol and their refusal to engage the simplest of information…the state of Alabama is denying me oxygen. I need oxygen to breathe. The oxygen that I metaphorically need to function…truth.
We have put out several safety demands…to which the State of Alabama has not responded. They are not willing to engage the simplest safety measures. The State of Alabama has not responded to the truth that experts have shared over and over. I guess this should make sense…since they are so comfortable taking the life of a human being in this manner…suffocation. If they are prepared to kill someone in such a way…what would it mean to kill someone else? It seems that it would mean very little.
I’m not afraid to give my life. I am more afraid of not giving my life for what I believe. But there is a tyranny of uncertainty that the State of Alabama maintains that has certainly given my family and I pause. How could it not? They should be ashamed of themselves…ashamed. A few nights ago, my son Phillip came to me with tears in his eyes and wanted to make sure that I’d be ok. Of course, I told him that I would. He asked how I could be sure. The only reply that I could muster was, “I don’t know.” The State of Alabama hasn’t given me a better answer.
The tyranny of uncertainty that the State of Alabama has created has given tremendous stress to people that I deeply love. Once again, they should be ashamed. But of course, they won’t be. Those who are this comfortable being murderers have no shame.
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