A campfire that I'm not ashamed to sing around...

Question

Violent criminals deserve to fry? To die?And if your cousin is one of them well, that's a campfire thatI'm not ashamed to sing around. To fry her?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

MadhulkViolent criminals deserve to fry? To die?
And if your cousin is one of them well, that's a campfire that I'm not ashamed to sing around. To fry her?All my life, "to fry" has referred to death by electrocution. In my state (NH), they hanged people.
Seems like in some states they were shot, but I'm not completely sure about that.
These days, lethal injection is quite popular. Even Dr. Kevorkian uses it!

The campfire is a figurative play on the "frying."
In actual fact, singing around a campfire is a popular form of relaxation for Boy Scouts, cowboys, campers in general. It's a time of happiness.

In the old days, public hangings of criminals were big affairs in the US. People brought picnic lunches.
(very much a campfire type of atmosphere)

These days, there's scattered opposition worldwide to the death penalty.
But your speaker would not be ashamed to rejoice [publicly] at this particular execution.
(even though she's somebody's cousin)
Prior context might reveal the implied source of possible shame - the family tie, or world opinion.

Edit. Yes, I was thinking Utah used the firing squad, but I didn't want to say so without checking.

I think the US is the only so-called "western industrialized country" that still uses the death penalty.

Madhulk · Answer

Now I get it. Thanks, Avangi!

Philip · Answer

AvangiI think the US is the only so-called "western industrialized country" that still uses the death penalty.

And because of that, even if we were properly located geographically, we would not be allowed membership in the EU. [I'm not trying to start a debate, as this isn't the place for it....just stating a fact as an interesting aside.]

Avangi · Answer

PhilipI'm not trying to start a debate, as this isn't the place for it

Let debate thrive! [Y] (elsewhere)

It is a fascinating subject. Didn't Texas set a new record last year?

(17)
(Nope, there were 40 in 2000. I'm way off!)

A campfire that I'm not ashamed to sing around...

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