The rise of the right is easy to explain when you still
murder in the name of The State. Ten years ago today I was in Texas for
the execution of John Joe Amador aka Ash.
One of our execution
party was going to do a death mask of Ash after he was killed. A short time before they snuffed him out, we spoke on the phone. Ash said
that a death mask was what was done for kings and queens and was
honoured by the action. The beauty to be found in this abominable tale was that his mask did indeed, end up with kings and queens in the V&A museum. The power of art in catharsis must never be underestimated.
