Connecticut becomes 17th state to abolish the death penalty

[_asbestosman]

I shed no tears for Saddam's death, but it sends chills down my spine to think of people enjoying the actual event. There are men who, even if they have any redeeming qualities, are so depraved they have forfeit all human dignity. Even so, I think there is a danger in us losing our dignity as well.

Saddam is dead, but his death solves nothing. Those he murdered will not return. His death will not deter future dictators. If we rejoice that his blood was spilled what does that make us? Celebrating those deaths does not make us bloodthirsty tyrants, but it isn't exactly noble either. Maybe there is a reason that killing tyrants is better than imprisoning them, but I have not yet heard one. I agree that if anyone doesn't deserve to live it's them.

[_Chap]

I shed no tears for Saddam's death, but it sends chills down my spine to think of people enjoying the actual event. There are men who, even if they have any redeeming qualities, are so depraved they have forfeit all human dignity. Even so, I think there is a danger in us losing our dignity as well.

Saddam is dead, but his death solves nothing. Those he murdered will not return. His death will not deter future dictators. If we rejoice that his blood was spilled what does that make us? Celebrating those deaths does not make us bloodthirsty tyrants, but it isn't exactly noble either. Maybe there is a reason that killing tyrants is better than imprisoning them, but I have not yet heard one. I agree that if anyone doesn't deserve to live it's them.

+1

You aren't Hungarian too, by any chance?

[_asbestosman]

You aren't Hungarian too, by any chance?

Nah. Just some silly American who's occasionally influenced by the lessons of Europe.

[_sock puppet]

I guess I am not yet at that next step, ludwigm. Only repulsion from watching that one.

I am in the same state.

You know, I am a clinical case of obsession of association.

After any event I think about something which fits. Joke, picture, video - something with similar attributes - and I must to share it...

keep it up, ludwigm. It is a valuable contribution that you make.

[_sock puppet]

A thought:

Suppose there is a society in which it is acceptable for 'good' people to say publicly that they enjoy seeing 'bad' people die - as several people on this board have done.

As usual, people all tend to think they themselves are 'good' (I mean, who seriously, deep down, thinks they are bad?).

Now there are some people with what most of us would see as very unusual motivations and moral orientations, who while thinking of themselves as 'good' believe that people can be classed as 'bad' because they are the wrong color, dress provocatively, or fail to show sufficient deference ('respect').

Is it not likely that a society which proclaims that wanting bad people to die is OK is just that bit more likely to see people in the group just described killing their own favorite group of 'bad' people and feeling that this is an OK action?

That's the slippery slope argument. Currently the death penalty is reserved for more than just "bad" people. Every day lots and lots of bad people are convicted for doing bad things. Only a small percentage of those guys are sentenced to death. Most bad people are products of their environment, and as a civil society we should give them a chance at rehabilitation. But there is a certain category of bad people that can never be allowed to roam free. We've all heard about them - the psychopaths with no empathy for others, who find pleasure in the suffering of others, or who are sexually aroused by death, rape, and torture. We've been trying to rehabilitate these types of bad guys for decades, and they just can't be fixed. These types of bad guys are not part of humanity. They are animals. I support putting them down, but I have softened my position some and would be OK locking them away forever.

The human gene pool throws out a defective, anti-social unit every once in a while.

[_ludwigm]

the person addressed is lacking in courage or firmness

Lacking in courage???
We meet at Philippi!

[_ludwigm]

Prepare to watch the next execution!

[_krose]

I shed no tears for Saddam's death, but it sends chills down my spine to think of people enjoying the actual event. There are men who, even if they have any redeeming qualities, are so depraved they have forfeit all human dignity. Even so, I think there is a danger in us losing our dignity as well.

Saddam is dead, but his death solves nothing. Those he murdered will not return. His death will not deter future dictators. If we rejoice that his blood was spilled what does that make us? Celebrating those deaths does not make us bloodthirsty tyrants, but it isn't exactly noble either. Maybe there is a reason that killing tyrants is better than imprisoning them, but I have not yet heard one. I agree that if anyone doesn't deserve to live it's them.

I agree completely.

I also felt uneasy watching all the celebration after bin Laden was killed. That was certainly an execution, planned that way from the start, and I agree it was the only acceptable outcome. Capture and trial would have been a disaster and created a martyrdom rallying point. But did we really have to be so giddy about it? It was more of a somber time for me. Of course, I'm a known bleeding-heart liberal.

Also, I am incredibly impressed when I see victims and their families, who have been horribly and brutally wronged, forgive the perpetrator and ask that he not be executed. They are often Christians, and even though I am not a fan of Christianity (or religion in general), this example of actually living their religion is amazing to see. I respect people like that more than I can say. Overcoming natural impulses of vengeance must be extremely difficult, so I wouldn't criticize those who cannot, but those who can are impressive.