With the death penalty being such a polar issue, it is imperative that there be some sort of compromise or consensus drawn on the issue. If no conclusion about the death penalty is reached then there will continue to be the issue of racism in the justice system. There needs to be a resolution, an end to the debate—answers about the possible corruptness of the death penalty.
Though unrelated in certain aspects, the Supreme Court is currently reviewing the death penalty on the accusation that it violates the eighth amendment, which outlaws cruel and unusual punishment. It is good to know that for one reason or another, people are paying attention to the death penalty. There are multiple reasons to abolish the death penalty, though it is not the one I focused on that is causing the stir, it is another added reason that the death penalty should be eradicated.
As a supposedly advanced progressive nation, it is shocking to see that we are among one of the last developed countries to either drastically limit the death penalty by reforms, or to abolish it all together. 77 countries have abolished the death penalty since 1976; it is becoming apparent that we are falling behind in the times, concerning the death penalty. Without some sort of reform, the issue of the death penalty will continue to divide the nation, and a disproportionate number of minorities, as well as any number of innocent people will be killed. The country is ready for change; it is time to realize that certain aspects of our justice system are becoming archaic and need to be revamped. Civil Rights have come a long way with the school systems, with public opinions and public services; the justice system needs to catch up.
‘Look, examine, reflect. You hold capital punishment up as an example. Why? Because of what it teaches. And just what is it that you wish to teach by means of this example? That thou shalt not kill. And how do you teach that "thou shalt not kill"? By killing.’
2 comments:
I think there was a little bit of a hasty generalization in saying that 'it is becoming apparent that we are falling behind in the times'. This is not clear in what we are falling behind in. We aren't falling behind in technology because we have some of the best computer engineers in the world. We ARE falling behind in the aspect of death technology. We aren't falling behind in development as a country, but more as coming together of a country. You know what they say, an eye for an eye.
Lauren states:
"You hold capital punishment up as an example. Why? Because of what it teaches. And just what is it that you wish to teach by means of this example? That thou shalt not kill. And how do you teach that "thou shalt not kill"? By killing.’"
The correct translation is thou shalt not murder, which is quite obvious when you reflect on how many crimes/sins that God calls for the death of the offender.
Furthermore, there is a significant moral difference between the rape/murder of a child and the judicial execution of that rapist/murderer.
Why do we impose the death penalty on some criminals? It is because we find a differnt degree of harm committed by some crimes and find, because of that, that the offender should not be allowed to live.
That is why jurors, who have the option between death and lesser sentences, choose the death penalty in some cases.
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