May09
An Inmate's Final Request
Posted at 03:37 PM | Permalink
| 
Comments (13)
 |
This story is just steeped in tragedy, but there's a bit of a bright spot in it, which bears directly on our work and involves a generous PETA member. Last night, just hours before his execution by lethal injection, a Tennessee inmate named Philip Workman made an unusual request for his last meal: A vegetarian pizza to be delivered to a homeless person in Nashville. In an attack of what I can only describe as bureaucratic stinginess, the Tennessee prison charged with ending Mr. Workman's life denied his request, claiming that their "final meal" regulations didn't allow for charitable donations. Though he didn't live to hear the news that his request was eventually carried out, the good news is that it was—and tenfold—thanks to a PETA donor who was impressed by his act of charity, which explicitly sought to help humans without harming animals. As Ingrid Newkirk says,
"Workman's act was selfless, and kindness to all living beings is a virtue. PETA will be ordering not one but ten veggie pizzas to be delivered today to the closest homeless shelter to Riverbend."
Nothing like a few veggie pizzas to give a sad story a happy ending.
TAGGED:
vegetarian philip workman execution pizza
Comments
Whoa, why in the world wouldn't they just deliver the freaking pizza for the guy? How ridiculous. It's a shame he didn't even live to see his request carried about, but at least it was.
Posted by: Canaduck | May 9, 2007 03:55 PM
ummmmmmmmm, HE KILLED A GUY, that is kindness to all living beings. It's great he supports vegetarian pizzas, and it's great some homeless people got some food, but come on. How could you say a guy is virtuous and has kindness for all living things when he took someone's life?
Posted by: lindsey boyle | May 9, 2007 05:16 PM
The article says that friendly fire may have killed the man.
Posted by: kelly | May 9, 2007 06:08 PM
More than 20% of people on death row are innocent by the way to the person who said ummmm,he said a man. Why don't you do the lethal injection while eating your juicy steak!
Posted by: Amie | May 9, 2007 08:28 PM
I heard this on CNN, I was so glad something postive came out of this tragedy... Thank you and your member for supporting his wishes despite the stupidity of the system. All those who gave in his name deserve an honorable mention, including the inmate who suffered an unfortunate and unfair life (and death) ~Janet
Posted by: Janet Bollero | May 10, 2007 02:32 AM
Amie,
I'm a vegan, so don't jump to conclusions. That's quite close minded and rude of you, don't you think?
All I'm saying is that he shouldn't be quoted as a kind and virtuous person with kindness towards all, even if he didn't kill the officer, he was robbing a wendy's with a gun (which usually means you have the intent to hurt someone).
Like I said, it's great he supports vegetarianism and wants to help the homeless, I just don't think he should be quoted and kind and virtuous.
Posted by: lindsey | May 10, 2007 12:09 PM
after years in prison many criminals are worse when they get out from the day when they got in - because these prisons don't understand a f*** of therapy and treatment of these guys and instead of stuffing them with meat and executing them they should put them on a vegetarian diet and guide them into a spiritual life, because these poor guys often come out of ghettos where there was no hope for anything good left for them! i'm an avid fighter against death penalty aswell as against slaughterhouses and war - all these things have a diabolic background and are against human dignity!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: animalfriend | May 10, 2007 01:36 PM
Lindsey, I agree with you. He's no saint by any standard, but that was a generous gesture on his part. Frankly, I'm more focused on the idiocy of the people who refused to grant his last request.
Posted by: Canaduck | May 10, 2007 06:02 PM
Canaduck,
exactly.
Posted by: lindsey | May 11, 2007 11:57 AM
I don;t know what Workman was being executed for but it was at least murder. So did he give his victim his last request? I think not! Put your compasion on someone who deserves it PLEASE.
carol johnson
Posted by: carol johnson | May 11, 2007 07:36 PM
Once again I see PETA looking the other way . I mean working with celebrities like Baldwin (USA) or Borgy (MANILA) who have publicly shown major character issues.
Now WORKMAN...c'mon PETA our veggie cafe in little old Baguio is a supporter BUT can you guys do a reality check ?
Role models for PETA should be truly deserving...one man's thoughts. Thanks for any feedback.
Jim Ward
Baguio City
Philippines
Posted by: jim ward | May 11, 2007 10:50 PM
The LA Times carried the story also, stating that the Nashville Union Rescue Mission received 170 pizzas and a radio station in MN reportedly ordered pizzas to be sent to an organization for troubled youth .
I'm a vegatarian and opposed to capital punishment . I hope the director of the prison in Nashville gets fired
Posted by: Michele | May 12, 2007 01:16 AM
there are many kinds of murder in this world and not all are punished as it should be and above all it's not up to the human being to judge and execute - this shall come after through a higher being - when all the murders shall be over...
Posted by: Little Drummer Boy | May 12, 2007 01:49 PM