4.Steinbecks: Leave Lennie alone

http://www.salon.com/2012/08/08/steinbecks_leave_lennie_alone/

Rania Khalek analyzes an important issue on August 8th: is Texas right in using Steinbeck's fictional character Lennie as a standard to determine whether one should be exempted from execution? The article starts with the narrative of the verdict faced by Marvin Wilson, who was executed days before. Khalek explains a bit of Texas' history and constitution, how it has been labeled for its inclination toward capital punishment, and how it exempts those diagnosed with mental retardation from execution. After pointing out those aspects about the state, she gives the reader an insight on Wilson's case and on the inequity faced by him, since he was diagnosed with mental retardation by a neuropsychologist but still would not fit the "Briseño factors" adopted by Texas in order to determine a person's degree of ability to critically think and act. Khalek argues against this policy by stating Lee Kovarsky, the defendant in the case, who points out that "not a single clinician or scientific body uses or even recognizes the “Briseño factors” as valid." She then dives deeper in the "Briseño factors," explaining how they were based on Steinbeck's fictional character Lennie, from his book "Of mice & men." Some arguments from Steinbeck's son Thomas follows, defending Wilson and the idea that a whole policy coming off of his father's fictional book is outrageous and also stating: "I am certain that if my father, John Steinbeck, were here, he would be deeply angry and ashamed to see his work used in this way.” Further information is presented on the last paragraphs of the article, making an analogy between Wilson's  and Chester v. Thaler's. Khalek closes her article through the impacting statement made by Thaler's lawyer regarding the Briseño factors, which consisted of the idea that this method was based on "false stereotypes about mental retardation that effectively exclude all but the most severely incapacitated.”

Rania Khalek's intention through this article is to expose this problem occuring in Texas and presenting its system's failures. She opens the article recounting Wilson's fate and his conditions, already capturing the reader's attention and sympathy toward the cause. Her intentions and inclination become clear as she presents several arguments against the Briseño factors through logical argumentation, quotes from Steinbeck's son and from the defendant attorneys as well. An argument against Wilson's execution and the method which allowed it to occur present at the article's last paragraph also show Khalek's position toward this problem and impact the reader, who is now shocked with this ludicrous system and eager to make a change.