Capital punishment (was Book offer)
Dave racerx@altinet.net
Sat, 28 Feb 1998 10:48:07 -0700 (00888709687, 199802281748.KAA20460@maxwell.kumo.com)
>> >RALPH
>> >Thanks, Michael. Unfortunately, Americans are so brainwashed with the
>very
>> >idea of capital punishment that most of them accept it as perfectly
>normal.
>> >Most churches accept it, many even push it. In the U.K. the most avid
>> >proponents of it were Church of England clergy. Thank goodness, the
>> >Catholic Church now opposes it. That won't change the minds of Catholics
>> >like Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, and William F. Buckley, though.
>> >
>> >I was once talking with my mailman about it. He is a very decent guy,
>but
>> >he bristled when I suggested that capital punishment should be
>abolished.
>> >He was sold on the idea that it is a deterrent, probably because he had
>> >never heard otherwise. I asked him to consider which states have the
>> >highest number of murders per capita. I suggested Texas, Georgia and
>> >Florida. He agreed. I then asked which states have the greatest number
>of
>> >executions. Texas, Georgia and Florida! And which states have the
>highest
>> >percentage of Xian fundamentalists? Texas, Georgia and Florida,
>probably.
>> >He walked away thinking.
>> >
>> >BRIDEAN
>> >I am not necessarily against capital punishment. I don't think it is a
>> deterant
>> >but it is a way of preventing the person from harming society ever
>again.
>> I would
>> >rather see that then to put him in prison for a long time, let him back
>out
>> so
>> >he can kill someone again, put him in prison again, let him out again
>..
>> >
>> >I'll have more to say about capital punishment and the Bible later.
>> >
>>
>> TILL
>> So that Xians on the list won't think that skeptics and atheists band
>> together on issues, I will point out that I am a believer in capital
>> punishment. To my way of thinking, whether capital punishment deters
>crime
>> is besides the point. I consider it an appropriate punishment for
>certain
>> crimes. For example, I would consider it inappropriate not to demand of
>> Timothy McVeigh that he pay for his crime with his own life. Executing
>him
>> may not deter other radicals from planting bombs, but it will communicate
>to
>> them the value that society put on the lives that were taken in the
>Oklahoma
>> City bombing.
>>
>> LARSON
>> My father (even my wife) are staunch supporters of capital punishment. I
>am
>> however very much opposed to this practice. Perhaps I think more like
>God
>> than I care to admit. In my opinion, when someone is convicted of taking
>> another human life, I think that person should spend the rest of his/her
>> days thinking, anguishing, and regretting their heinous crime against
>their
>> victim(s). While no perfect penal system exists, I would certainly
>> recommend prison reform in the living conditions of convicted murders.
>> Convicted murderers should only be provided with:
>>
>> 1. One meal per day
>> 2. 6' x 8' cage (cell)
>> 3. 1 pillow & 1 blanket
>> 4. The clothes on their backs
>> 5. a toilet
>> 6. No parole
>>
>> Never being allowed to leave their cell, along with being denied daylight
>> and human contact, these prisoners should be allowed to choose the
>lengths
>> of their own lives. Either choose a life leading to natural death, or
>> utilize their blankets as a means of setting themselves free, as the bars
>> that house their doorway to freedom will indeed set them free. Death is
>> much too easy and offers no real punishment as it is only a quick
>solution
>> in ridding ourselves of society's vermin. These prison living conditions
>I
>> suggested are used throughout the world. Only in the US could we develop
>> prisons that resemble "health clubs." How unfortunate!
>>
>IAN
>Hi Dougie,
>You do sound a lot like God. I'll bet you'd make a damn good one.
>Unfortunately, I have to side more with Till. Keep them alive and some
>bleeding heart like you or almost like you, will always come around wanting
>to write a magazine article to make the poor bastrds plight known to the
>public. Why waste time?
>
>
RACERX:
Well, let's not forget that people make mistakes and commit fraud. I am not
talking about the criminals, I am talking about the judges and jurys of our
society. If one reviews the cases of proven fraud committed by cops and
prosecutors, it makes sense to put some brakes on the capital punishment
system. Unless you believe in "inerrancy" as it pertains to the justice
system. I like Doug's solution.
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Philosophy is questions that may never be answered.
Religion is answers that may never be questioned.
racerx@altinet.net
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