Many states record their death row inmates requested last meals before execution. Given the power of the web, you can increasingly view these requests. Some last meal requests read like eating competitions, while others look like a casual order at a greasy spoon. An Arizona listing for 2000 struck me in the true finality of this meal request…
- 2 guacamole tostadas;
2 tacos;
1 strawberry malt;
1 Dr. pepper;
1 lemon meringue pie;
5 whole jalapenos;
1 lemon,
1 lime;
1 qt strawberry ice cream
This meal has a wonderful rhythm to it of creamy comfort and taste bud zingers. Negating the instances that brought these prisoners to this decision, the request for jalapenos, limes, and lemons rocks my core. This is a plea to experience life in a final act, through the mouth. A lemon for the excitment of running down the street, and a spoonful of strawberry ice cream equating to a comforting embrace?
Many US state recordings of last meal requests state that these are simply requests- and not fulfilled for the prisoners. According to Texas Death Row Chef, Brian Price, the meals are often similar though depending on the request.
This season of feeling thankful, spend a moment rubber-necking these meal listings. I urge you to think beyond death penalty politics, and crime details. Consider the humanity of unfullfillment and chose one of these meals to serve to your family this thankful season.
Arizona Last Meal Requests
Texas Last Meal Requests
Georgia Last Meal Requests
California Last Meal Requests
For a Unicorn Chaser (aka immediate happy thoughts), check out my preceding blog post on Pregnant Turkeys…
4 Comments
There’s actually a whole blog about this - stating each prisoner’s request just before.. umm, the execution. It’s scary, but fascinating, too. http://www.deadmaneating.com/
I won’t be doing any cooking today but thanks for getting me to think of them today.
A few weeks ago I did a project for my advanced painting class inspired by this post (I was reading your archives and came across it). We had to do something about “a controversial social issue.” Before I saw this post, I was totally stumped. If you’d like to check it out, I posted it on craftster. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=153422.0 (There’s alot of other things I did in that class as well, the one inspired by this is near the bottom.) I just wanted to thank you for the inspiration. (I used the one that impacted you so much. It really spoke to me as well.)
It’s more than the humanity of unfulfillment. It’s the humanity of putting humans to death. And the hypocrisy of this act.
