Supposedly the most humane, and powerful country in the world still practices the death penalty? I just simply don't get this. As Americans, we are supposed to serve as a blue print for the rest of the world. Like in any other country, we are faced with the same challenge of sentencing convicted murderers. Does it bother anyone else that we still see death as a reasonable answer? I strongly feel that murder only breeds more murder. What makes it acceptable for the Government to carry out murder, and not acceptable for a civilian to carry out the same task? One may say that it is purpose that seperates the two. What if the civilian feels he has a reasonable reason to carry out murder? Who is to determine what reason is reasonable? Why not give these men or women a chance to turn their lives around behind bars? These are all questions that need to be asked, and answered.
Is it possible that the death penalty has corrupted our society, making murder socially acceptable? Glorifying murder to the point where rappers have made millions of dollars spitting off lines about killing a rival gang member. What irritates me most, is the fact that more High Schoolers can tell you every song on the Mac Dre Album, but can't name the Vice President.
The point to all of this is humanity. It may sound funny, but if we are to be blue prints for the rest of the world, we must practice what we preach. We condemn executions in middle eastern countries, yet we do the same on American soil. The only difference between the two is that one takes a little longer to carry out. More importantly, the actions our Government takes should serve as a role model of sorts for our youth. If you carry out vicious executions, than expect our youth to do the same.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I am against killing people, too, under any circumstanes (so implicitlely against death penaly). But I keep thinking what can be done about the ones that do so much harm? They are already full of hate, and they won't listen to no re-educational plan. They won't care about faith, they won't care about other people. Then how can we change them, so we can say that we really saved their lives?
I still stand by saying that we just need to do medical expirements on convicts instead of killing them, maybe the expiriments would, who really cares?
So far, American had executed 119 people who were later found to be innocent... that's a bad track record.
~Freddie
There is no proof of an innocent executed in the US, at least since 1900.
Freddie Z appears to be confused or deceived. Anti death penalty folks claim large number of innocents have been proven innocent, not executed.
That 119 number from Freddie Z likely refers to the number of alleged innocents release from death row, since 1973. However, not even that number is accurate.
Reviews indicate that 20-30 actual innocents may have been sentneced to death since 1973.
I REALLY FEEL THAT NO ONE HAS THE RIGHTS TO KILL. IF THOSE WORKING IN THE FACILITY DOES BELIEVE IN GOD, THEN THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND ONE OF HIS COMMANDMENTS, "THOU SHALL NOT KILL". MAN WAS NOT MADE TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE LIVES, BUT IS HERE TO DETERMINE WHERE IS HIS HOME IN THE AFTER LIFE.
Ease up on the caps locks.
I AM JUST AGAINST THAT TOTALLY.
The US Governent is punishing people for hurting and murdering other people. They are saying, "Killing is bad, you're going to get punished, now we are going to kill you." HOw ass-backwards is that? If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is.
Heh, the title of this entry threw me... very different from the message of the actual entry. I agree with you on all points, except perhaps the idea that the death penalty is responsible for violence in our society and pop culture. That seems like a bit of a logical fallacy to me.
Other countries have rap music and violent video games, but no death penalties.
Anyway, I'll forgive one or two exaggerations for what was, otherwise, a good post I personally agree with.
If someone murders my lover, my sister, my mother, or my father, I want them dead. It's as simple as that. It may sound brutal, but it's human emotion. And it's how I will always feel. The death penalty is inhumane and wrong? So is murdering people for an unjust cause. Imbalance is corrected, justice is served.
An eye for an eye will leave us blind.. but hey it'll sure make me feel better. I agree with you.