Americans have a Calvinist holdover and enjoy severe punishment and deprivation of others. It makes them feel better about themselves and their rootless lives. That's pretty much the American way when you think about it...
shareA murderer doesn't get that much time in prison
shareI think the sentence is a reflection of East Texas. East Texas is a very religious community, and as some of the interviews early in the film shows, the act of arson against the church is an unforgiveable sin, and I believe the intense emotion towards the nature of the crime is what is behind the sentencing.
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