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Boris Godunov
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Portland, OR
Aug 2001 time: 00:33
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quote: Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Oh, and of course, it is a specific deterrant - the person killed can't kill anyone else anymore. |
This is, in the end, the one and only justification I can find for the death penalty, but that means it can only be applied very rarely and when there is such a preponderance of evidence as to assure the guilt of the criminal. I'm not talking mere "beyond a reasonable doubt," I'm talking about beyond ANY doubt.
Justice should never, ever be about revenge, it should solely be about protecting society, which is what the entire purpose of our criminal justice system is. We don't lock up theives for revenge, we lock them so they a) won't prey on people while incarcerated and b) will hopefully rehabilitate and become honest members of society.
Now, if have a murderer who is beyond any doubt guilty, and there's every reason to believe he will continue to kill, then perhaps the only solution for society's protection is to remove him from the world. Gacy, Dahmer and Bundy certainly would fit this bill.
So, frankly, I find anyone who approves of the death penalty without caring if it's a deterrant to be rather bloodthirsty and sick. If you only care about revenge, please don't go into criminal law.
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Tripledoc
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Every Day in America
1 young person under 25 dies from HIV infection.
5 children or youth under 20 commit suicide.
9 children or youth under 20 are homicide victims.
9 children or youth under 20 die from firearms.
34 children and youth under 20 die from accidents.
77 babies die.
157 babies are born at very low birthweight (less than 3 lbs., 4 oz.).
180 children are arrested for violent crimes.
367 children are arrested for drug abuse.
401 babies are born to mothers who had late or no prenatal care.
825 babies are born at low birthweight (less than 5 lbs. 8 oz.).
1,310 babies are born without health insurance.
1,329 babies are born to teen mothers.
2,019 babies are born into poverty.
2,319 babies are born to mothers who are not high school graduates.
2,861 high school students drop out.*
3,585 babies are born to unmarried mothers.
4,248 children are arrested.
7,883 children are reported abused or neglected.
17,297 public school students are suspended.*
* Based on calculations per school day (180 days of seven hours each).
© 2002 Children's Defense Fund
..........................................................
And the death penalty will help in which exact way?
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Dr Strangelove
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When I clicked on that link I got a story about the baby who died after an operation to remove her second head. I presume that was not the story you were talking about? If it was, then let me asure you that the child had very little chance of survivng with a second useless head attached to its skull. At least the doctor gave her a chance.
You're probably talking about the mechanic who abducted an 11 year old girl right in front of a surveillance camera. I doubt the jury will have mercy upon him. I can't think of any acceptible extenuating circumstances.
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Tripledoc
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I view the death penalty from an anthropological perspective. It is like the ancient Aztecs who believed that by sacrifizing people, the sun would rise every day.
In the same manner, today the death penalty serves no function but assuring people that tomorrow it will be another normal working day.
"Everything is fine. The system is good. Continue with business as usual."
The truth is that the death penalty does not deter crime.
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Richelieu
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Gatineau
Dec 2001 time: 00:33
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quote: Originally posted by Tripledoc
I view the death penalty from an anthropological perspective. |
I view the death penalty from a human perspective. Whoever did this deserves to die.
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Tripledoc
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quote: Originally posted by Richelieu
I view the death penalty from a human perspective. Whoever did this deserves to die. |
I think the point of anthropology is to view things from a human perspective. Yours is purely religious I suspect.
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Richelieu
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Gatineau
Dec 2001 time: 00:33
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quote: Originally posted by Tripledoc
I think the point of anthropology is to view things from a human perspective. Yours is purely religious I suspect. |
Nope. I'm an atheist.
What i am saying is that you use anthropology to detach yourself from your emotions. You use it as a filter, a way to interpret these events. I don't. I don't want to. I am outraged and it's perfectly natural that i would be and that anyone should be. That's what i consider to be the human perspective.
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Tripledoc
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quote: Originally posted by Richelieu
Nope. I'm an atheist. |
My bad. Sorry.
quote:
What i am saying is that you use anthropology to detach yourself from your emotions. You use it as a filter, a way to interpret these events. I don't. I don't want to. I am outraged and it's perfectly natural that i would be and that anyone should be. That's what i consider to be the human perspective. |
Yes but that is the subjective human perspective. That is what you exclusively believe. In case of justice I would be concerned if it was to be based on emotion. It should at least attempt to work towards some scientific or scholarly understanding.
Also I know neither the man accused of the crime, nor the victim, and hence I do not have the capability of true empathy. If I should feel empathy towards all people who are treated wrongly, then life would be unbearable. People feel an all-encompassing ideal empathy towards humanity as a whole, and a real one towards the people you know, or you momentarily pass in life.
I do not believe for one second that anyone feel any real empathy towards just exclusive victims they have heard of or read about. This is sentimentalism, which is something entirely different. Or it might be that television is now capable of transmitting its emotive fascism to the masses.
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