Do you feel any compassion for Dzhokhar?

First, here’s what I am not talking about: I’m not talking about the practical nature of the jury’s verdict. It’s clear that what we have we have chosen here is to guarantee martyrdom and show the world that we don’t really think killing is wrong. Dzhokhar just killed the wrong people. We also show our support for giving the state the right to kill. In every respect, it’s tacitly approving of Dzhokhar’s actions, and a victory for those who want to turn progressive democracies into opppressive immoral theocracies. It also means that the families here will be exposed to months or years of appeals and it will put their healing on hold yet again.

But I’m not necessarily talking about the decision that has been made to kill him rather than keep him locked up for life.

But I’m specifically asking about your emotions. What do you feel when you consider Dzhokhar?

Am I alone in feeling compassion for this guy? Is this a feeling that you only get for people who do things that you like? What do you feel when you consider him? Hatred? How does it feel to hate people? Does it make you feel better? Safer? Does hating the person – not just his actions – feel like a radical political act?