A Death Sentence

I was asked recently what my thoughts were on the death penalty. I know the answer I was expected to give. This is what I wrote:

On this issue, I have been all over the place. When I was young, I was passionately against the death penalty. My feeling was that anyone who could take a life, most certainly had to be insane. You have to understand that I hold LIFE, in the highest regard. It is THEE most precious gift. How we got here is a mystery, but its up to us to honor this gift of life by cherishing it and nurturing it. The problem is, what I think, feel and believe, is not what everyone thinks, feels and believes. As I grew older I began to realize that there are a very few human beings that have a total disregard for life including their own. In most cases it has nothing to do with incompetence or insanity. It doesnt even matter where they were brought up, or what harm was done to them as a child. Many of us have gone through our own personal hell, but we dont turn it into a license to harm others. Were supposed to learn, and grow from our experiences. And if I can get that, I think everyone else can too.

So, now that Im older and (supposed to be) wiser, I have changed my views. Let me ask you something. Do you think that if a man raped a woman, and as a result, had his penis cut off, would ever rape another woman?

The only problem with this theory is that not every woman that cries rape, has been raped. And not everyone that is accused of murder, has taken a life. For this reason, its a very complicated issue. For a cut-and-dried you done it sort of crime, where there are credible witnesses, possible confession, substantial evidence, etc. then, (and this is my rather long winded answer) yes, I believe in the death penalty. I believe that if you have taken a life for whatever reason, that your lack of regard FOR that life, should be your ticket to your own demise. Is that fair?

I try hard not to judge. I do believe in karma. I truly believe that what goes around comes around, and for those that have done wrong, IT (karma) will take care of them. I also believe that when our souls leave our body and move on to the next, they will have yet another chance to . . . . . get it right. As long as it takes, and as many lives as it takes. Let me tell you, Im pretty sure that my soul is far from satisfied with Brenda, and will have a few more stops to make along the way.

But I try.

I think my reply was a great disappointment, but I can live with that.

Sunshine Wolf

January 4, 2005

I’m with you – have hopped all over the board on this (these) issue(s). Life was simpler when everything was black and white, wasn’t it? Now there are so many shades of grey….. and MAYBE everything is all ONE shade – nether black NOR white! New Year ponderings…..

Maui Jim

Life's Snakes and Ladders

i think if the person for taking a life has been truely found guilty then the death penulty is ok. but theres the problem of sending someone who isnt guilty to death. sometimes living is worse for the people, if they are punished well enough then maybe thts more of a punishment than a quick death. ryn; thnku, i’d like to see. email? jo_craven@hotmail.com

~Katherine

I’m not sure what your bottom line is. Would you be able to put the needle in the arm of a man/woman sentenced to death for a gruesome crime with evidence beyond doubt? I don’t know if I could do that. And yet, I could vote on a jury for the death sentence. And, I could kill the jerk next door who shoots fireworks on New Year’s Eve! (Lucky for him, I don’t have a gun).

Willy & Wilma

I’m with you, Brenda. When young, I, too was a idealist . Was sure I knew the answer to world problems was Socialism,. Experience over time and the USSR tore that to pieces. Most of us have a concience to live by (Jiminy Cricket good example). A few don’t. If it’s inherent, good riddance to the gene pool

Linda Kay

I’m fundamentally against the death penalty for a number of reasons: it is arbitrarily imposed; sometimes we are wrong — the person is not guilty; it is barbaric; it is not effective in detering murder except by the person put to death; it is costly; it takes far too long to administer. I am for life in prison without the possibility of parole for capital murder.>>>

>>>I also would have absolutely no problem killing someone in the heat of a revengeful moment or if protecting myself or a loved one. I could not, however, after years passed from the crime and all the passion that surrounded the crime was gone and the person who is being put to death is not the same person who committed the crime (that change you were talking about) ask the state to kill.

As far as I know, I’m in the minority in my thinking, but in countries where there is no death penalty, there are far fewer murders. We live in a hostile and punishing country. I’d like us to start becoming more humane. Hugs,

ThomaS

January 5, 2005

The Death Penalty does cure recidivism. My own mind is torn on this issue. As a younger person I believed in an all knowing punishing God but now have come to know a loving caring and forgiving God. Where once I believed in an eye for an eye I am troubled on the Death Penalty.

wanderlust (2)

I agree, including with the difficulty in getting to the decision.

I must admit when I first saw your entry title I was a little afraid to open the entry. I had just written how I hope 2005 is filled with blessings for you. I prayed you didn’t have a friend diagnosed with a deadly disease or something like that before I opened the entry. AMEN!

sophist

January 9, 2005

Truth is I have never been around the block with this issue-always against it. Not for insanity, not for justice, but for truth and karma. (plus, your example of rape/penis, it doesn’t address the POWER that is about rape, not sex…still might rape again, just without a penis :)) but I believe that it only serves revenge. Your final analysis is where I have always stood. And I do love you No1 *k*

Nectar

February 12, 2007

Having had a son murdered I believe I have an ability to answer this question first hand as a victim of the crime There is no time long enough- is my only answer lots of huggs