Death or life?

[Aki]

Originally Posted by lindagarrette

I oppose the death penalty because its only purpose is vindictive but it doesn't really harm the victim.

The thing is, if we don't access death penalties, then we have to keep them in prison for their lifetime. So basically we have to feed them, and that's how our tax money gets used?! Just walking down the street in downtown, you see so many homeless people. Wouldn't it make more sense to use that money to help them? Or even the people in Africa and third world countries?

[lindagarrette]

The connection is primarily religious. What people believe defines their values. You can usually find out if they are pro or con something related to terminating life (or potential life) by asking what christian doctrine they adhere to. Without religious influence (and in reality), there is no right or wrong in this matter (or any other), just personal feeling based on experience within a given culture..

[Dimsie]

The only worry I have about the death penalty is that it might make it harder to get a convicition. Of course the death penalty is about retribution - a life for a life - I see that as perfectly fair. In the absence of the death penalty I believe a life sentence should mean just that - life. If someone murdered my child I would not want them ever to walk the streets again as a free man or woman, I would not want them ever to sit happily beside their child while I sat beside an empty seat, I would not want them to kiss their child goodnight while I looked into an empty bedroom - you get the picture? I would WANT retribution, I would want them to suffer for the rest of their life because not only would they have taken the life away from an innocent person, they would also have ruined my life and possibly several other people's.

PS I know too many people who have lost loved ones due to the violence of others. Don't condemn people for wanting retribution until you too have walked in their shoes.

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Dimsie

PS I know too many people who have lost loved ones due to the violence of others. Don't condemn people for wanting retribution until you too have walked in their shoes.

Welcome to Hypography, Dimsie. I look forward to interacting with you more on the various topics here.


As for your statement above, retribution has never brought back the missed loved one. Revenge doesn't make the emptiness nor hurt go away. To act on such emotion makes you no better than the individual who caused you the pain originally by their violent act, and does nothing to bring the loved one back nor help you let go of that pain. The only way to stop the cycle of pain, anguish, and hatred is to do so within yourself. Revenge nor retribution just won't do it.


Cheers.

[TheBigDog]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Welcome to Hypography, Dimsie. I look forward to interacting with you more on the various topics here.


As for your statement above, retribution has never brought back the missed loved one. Revenge doesn't make the emptiness nor hurt go away. To act on such emotion makes you no better than the individual who caused you the pain originally by their violent act, and does nothing to bring the loved one back nor help you let go of that pain. The only way to stop the cycle of pain, anguish, and hatred is to do so within yourself. Revenge nor retribution just won't do it.


Cheers.

InfiniteNow, I know that you and I are probably not going to sway one another on this matter, and I fully respect that. So i ask these questions in the spirit of having the discussion...

There is deterence and justice. What is the form of justice if the death penalty is removed? Who should determine what the balance of justice is for an act? And even if the victim is forgiving, and society is forgiving, what are the standards of justice that you must enforce to act as adeterence against further crimes? Have lives been saved by executing criminals? have people turned toward less violent acitons instead of risk their own death? If that is the case does that benefit merit the death penalty?

Bill

[InfiniteNow]

Once the individual is executed, any lessons are lost. One cannot be taught that killing is wrong by killing them. The death penalty does not serve as a detracter to a violent act, which itself is most often engaged in during a highly emotional and spontaneous moment.

Punishment just teaches people how to get away with things. I think you and I discussed this some in the "War. Is it ever justified?" thread.

http://hypography.com/forums/philoso...tml?#post81972


My (attempted and idealized) stance is more buddhist in nature. We should thank the individual who committed the violent act for reminding us how (and for giving us the opportunity) to forgive...