Yay. - That's my vote.
Okay folks, this piece is a bit on the heavy side. I realize I usually don't delve into discussing topics of this nature but this one has been on my mind for some time. People are affected by what goes on around them, and recently in my neck of the woods- the recently elected government has decided that they would like to start the Capital Punishment wheel back in motion. I became interested, because this is something serious, and so I tried to determine where I stand on the whole thing. I thought it all over, researched both sides of the argument over the death penalty and came to to the conclusion that if you do the crime, it's really only logical that you do the time. Also I realize that my society, and country on a whole has little to no respect (and fear) for the law and justice system. I mean to say that criminals and delinquents think that they can do whatever they want and get away with it. I personally think that is ridiculous, and I say this because to date the murder rate is a few lives lost over three hundred. Yup, three hundred people have either been murdered over jealousy, love lost, drug deals gone sour or gang violence (you get the point I'm trying to make). I fear that pretty soon if someone watches another person in so much as the slightest way that can be taken wrong- they will lose their life over it. So back to my point at hand- I'm on the capital punishment band wagon. Let's jump right into this one shall we?
You know I like to give you examples of things in the hope that you better understand where I'm coming from. So let's introduce a little scenario. As little kids, Joe and Peter crossed paths all the time. Peter however, had a cool toy that Joe always wanted for himself. One day Joe strikes Peter to the face, throws him to the floor and runs away with the toy. Now while others may have seen this wrongful act go down, nobody reprimands Joe for his action. Thus he learns nothing. Not respect for other people, and for their things nor that what he did was wrong. Joe grows up thinking it is okay to physically hurt people and take what does not belong to him- why? He was not punished so therefore he believes that there are no consequences for his actions.
Fast forward to about ten or fifteen years later. Joe is still hurting people and stealing what does not belong to him. Everything in life, even though it is not his is up for grabs to him. Little Joe has grown up to be a full fledged criminal.
Lesson learned? Some times we need a little slap on the wrist to learn that what we have done is wrong, something that is not okay and should be punished. What I'm trying to say is that capital punishment is like that slap on the wrist, only much more severe and even cruel. Necessary though. People who inflict pain, steal from and even murder other humans deserve to be punished. Enter- capital punishment.
I don't like when people are talking to me about something that I don't quite understand. So let me give you some quick insight as to what we're dealing with. Capital Punishment is also known as the death penalty; and its the execution of a person by judicial process. People who commit crimes that end in capital punishment are capital offenders, the crimes are capital offenses. People are sentenced to death and await the chosen method of punishment.
Okay now that you're up to speed let me continue with what I'm trying to say. I may be a bit rusty on my capital punishment history, but I only remember hearing about one criminal who was executed for drug dealing in my country. That was years ago, like a long while back. One serious case of punishment for crimes that are committed like breathing air in this country. That means that the other men and women who committed crimes and were sentenced to death row are STILL there. It's become some sort of hotel, where you did the crime but you're allowed to relax in a somewhat uncomfortable location where the food is crummy, the furniture is shabby and you aren't really allowed guests that often. Where is the reprimand in that? Somewhere along the line, the government got a bit slack or delinquent with an important part of justice. That being said, I believe that if these criminals are just biding day by day having committed a heinous or horrible crime, they learn NOTHING. They learn that you can do something terribly wrong, break a law, break a commandment even- and get away with it almost scotch free. You are sentenced to die, but you get to live, just not as a free man. It's a process really, this then says to other criminals or criminals in training that the law really is not the boss, and that you can literally get away with murder. There are no consequences for your actions so go right ahead and act.
NO. I for one do not agree with that.
I was raised to understand that every action has a consequence, and that it is not right to do wrong to other people. If you do something bad, you are to be punished. That rule should apply to everybody.
Capital Punishment is a tricky and controversial topic,and there are equal numbers both for and against it. Did you know that fifty- eight nations actively practice it; while ninety-five others have abolished it, calling it inhumane and wrong. Basically over 60% of the world's population live in areas of the world that executions take place, in some of the most prominent nations like the United States, India and China. The law and justice work together to eliminate the bad in the society; and to show that those who commit wrong doings will be and are punished. Capital punishment is a well oiled machine in those countries, while in our little island get away its more of a noisy, old, slow, out dated machine.
My research on this topic was definitely interesting, at the start of this I thought all someone had to do was murder another person and they'd end up on death row. Not the case. Many other crimes end in capital punishment such as treason, espionage (spying), kidnapping, blasphemy/magic, also some forms of corruption are also punishable by death.
~ Do you even know how many of those crimes are committed in my country on a daily, even sometimes hourly basis? People get away with these things as easily as they commit them. Nobody learns anything and all this time other people are losing their lives.
Granted, while I was reading up on this topic I also did come across some disturbing information. Capital Punishment can take many forms and has evolved from the olden days to now. Long ago criminals on death row were executed in numerous horrid ways such as hanging, crucifixion, stoning, burning, decapitation, guillotine, boiling to death and crushing (which in some countries was used with the help of an elephant). Harsh huh? I agree.
There is humane execution though- if you can imagine it. Arguments were made that criminals were punished in such brutal and inhumane manners that something should be done to lessen the brunt of the blow. So methods such as hanging in a different way, lethal injection and the gas chamber surfaced. You can put a wolf in a sheep's clothing and it will still be a wolf. It is what it is, crime is still crime and punishment is still punishment.
One (of the many) issues I have with capital punishment is the fact that the people who argue against it even lay the claim for less harsh punishment. Are you serious?! You are pleading on behalf of a man/woman who killed someone, conspired against the government or kidnapped another person and asking that they be given some sort of break? Uhm- no. Look at them with some compassion you say? Okay let me ask you this- where was this same compassion you're asking of me in the criminal when they murdered someone? Or kidnapped and then murdered someone? I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way in my mind. Bad actions deserve punishment. No argument or pleas necessary. My mind is made up.
I think that if you believe you have the right to take someone's life, no matter how severe the method- you have waved your right to your own life. You commit a crime and you surrender your right and freedom as easily as you have taken that victim's right or freedom to live their life. It is as simple as that.
Yes some people argue that capital punishment is murder in another form, the justice system takes the life of the criminals. I will acknowledge that point. BUT I do not hold it in any way valuable. Religion teaches me that murder is a sin, a BIG one, so much so that it breaks a commandment! I also believe that whatever we do is going to be judged by the Big Guy and a sin is pretty hard to explain yourself out of. You can ask for forgiveness or pardon for what you have done, but ultimately if you want to do something of that caliber then you simply have to face the music.
The death penalty may even just help the crime situation in some countries. Lord knows it would be a welcome help in my country. People, criminals need to see that you cannot go around taking people's lives and stealing what does not belong to you and simply get away with it. And I have to comment and say that the criminals in this part of the world are on some other stuff, they're evolving into something scary and not human. Some of the crimes that are being committed are disgusting and very frightening. People are being murdered, dismembered and be-headed! It sounds scary and it may make you uncomfortable my friends but that is the world, specifically the country we live in. One where at any given moment, someone may just decide that its your turn to go. As a law abiding citizen, and as a fearful citizen, I want to know what is going to happen to the people who committed the heinous and horrible crime I just mentioned. Will they be caught? Do they get to go free? What is the extent of the slap on the wrist, if any, that they get?
The biggest argument against Capital Punishment/Death Penalty is that of Human Rights. This makes me laugh a bit if I think about it. Lawyers who even subdue or eliminate their consciences long enough to represent criminals state that the death penalty is a violation of human rights. OKAY. Let's just scratch the surface of that argument just for a moment. Article 1 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights states:
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
HOW is this even an argument for letting a criminal go free and un-punished for their actions? I may be wrong here but this seems like the world's biggest double standard. You mean to tell me that I should allow someone who brutally murders another person in an act so horrible it seems devout of LOGIC and CONSCIENCE to simply have the right to be free?! NO. NO. NO. NO! It is simple- if you do something to another person that cannot be explained by logic, is totally lacking conscience and is completely out of the spirit of brotherhood; if you take away the right they're born with of freedom to live- then you do not deserve that same right and should have it taken away from you.
Murder is not logical, it cannot be committed in the spirit of brotherhood. Crime on the whole cannot be something logically explained; to do something wrong or bad to another person is against the law of country and of life. It should not go without reprimand.
What I am trying to say here is that yes, the death penalty/capital punishment may be inhumane and cruel but so is the initial act of crime that often precedes it! Capital punishment is just one part of the justice systems of the world. It isn't fair but life isn't fair when innocent people lose their lives over stupid, trivial and illogical things. If we have no justice, if people don't learn that actions have consequences then we have complete and total anarchy, a world where your life could be over at any minute at the hands of a man/woman who never got a slap on the wrist for the wrong they've done and has learnt no lessons.
Who wants to live in that world?
Certainly not me.
*Please remember that opinions in life are for everybody to have. Mine, while you may not agree with it is still my own. I always try to appreciate and acknowledge the opinions of others and I just wish that you all do the same where mine is concerned.*
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