Post by Jane on Mar 20, 2010 16:28:02 GMT -5
I'd like to share this with you all, especially because I think most people are sometimes (like me) unaware of the many alternatives in the world. Enjoy
I usually avoid the topic of the death penalty because it is a very controversial topic and I, like the rest of the world, hold a strong position on the topic. More so, I usually avoid this topic because it comes down to moral reasoning, which is conditioned differently in every individual. Those who oppose the death penalty are people who believe in a second change, in reformation, and the fact that humans shouldn’t play god, to name a few. Those who support the death penalty are cost, retribution, and deterrence. My position is against the death penalty.
First of all, in my personal opinion, “an eye for an eye” is not a logical reason to inflict death. Many peaceful world leaders have been fighting for peaceful ways to deal with difficult situations throughout all of history, and have proven that it is possible to come to solutions without having to kill. Florida came up with a reasonable alternative called Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP). This is a non-profit agency located in Tequesta, FL. They are opposed to the death penalty, believing "that as a society we are obligated to do better than to respond with a gut primal response, regardless of how natural that response may feel...our justice system is currently a retributive justice system which only heightens the pain and deepens the wounds of the families of victims of murder, the families of perpetrators, and the perpetrators themselves." “They suggest that individuals convicted of capital murder be incarcerated for at least 25 years before being considered for parole. During that time, they should be required to work at "jobs which are not slave-like and allow for some dignity and purpose of life." Part of their earnings would pay for their imprisonment, and another part would go to a restitution fund that would help victims of crime and the families of murder victims. No state has created such a restorative justice program.” Many people, out of anger, confusion, pain, and vengeance, jump to the conclusion of pushing for the death penalty. Just like criminals who convict a crime in the heat of passion, pushing for the death penalty in the heat of passion should also be a crime. As long as we continue to punish crimes with death, violence will prevail. I consider this to be a valid, solid, and rational alternative. I can see and understand why people would want to put to death those who murder a loved one, and I can try to put myself in their shoes; however I believe that we can rise above hatred and ignorance. This would prevent the death of many innocently convicted people, or the unjust punishment of an accidental murder, like in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972). With such a possible solution which proposes to solve the common and main issues of those who are for the death penalty (expenses, retribution, and deterrence), these issues could very well solve themselves and eliminate any further excuses to keep violence around.
My other main reason for not supporting the death penalty is, like I mentioned earlier, that morals are conditioned, and no two kids are raised the same. Right and wrong is different in every mind, and for those like me, such a concept does not exist. I believe that the government and the people need to play a larger role in education. Knowledge is essential, thus instead of setting of a killing spree in the world, we as people need to examine the roots of the problem to further alleviate it. Why do people kill? This is an important question to ask before condemning someone. Some are mentally ill, and putting a mentally ill person under the death penalty does not constitute any form of justice. Another reason people who are of “sound mind” may kill is because of revenge. This is based on anger and further issues deep rooted in psychology. Out of fear and misunderstanding, society condemns these individuals to death, and in fact prolonging the cycle of murder.
One might then conclude that the further root of the problem is education and parenting. People who are violent tend to pass that on to their kids. They use many outlets for their past and current pain, including their children, and pass on those traits to their without the need for abuse. Kids learn from the parents and from their environment. How, as a society, can we deal with such issues and prevent them from being passed on? With more access to psychologists, people can get help and end their cycle of fear, anger, anxiety, and hate. I also encourage the passing of a law that requires future parents to pass an anger management and parenting class before the birth of their child. Protecting the children means protecting our future. “Being abused does not necessarily cause psychological or medical illness to occur. However, being abused does make it much more likely that one or more psychological or medical illnesses will occur. Victimized people commonly develop emotional or psychological problems secondary to their abuse, including anxiety disorders and various forms of depression,” says Kathryn Patricelli, MA.
Better funding of education can also prevent deviance in society. Deviance is caused by many factors, and though beneficial to some extent, arises out of unfair principles that sometimes leave people little choices. “Labeling theory suggests that deviance is caused by the deviant person being negatively labeled, internalizing the label, and acting according to the label. For example, if a teacher labels a student as unruly, the student may internalize that label from the authority figure and behave unruly as if the labeling was a self-fulfilling prophecy,” according to Howard Becker, a leading sociologist in the field of sociology. He goes on to say that “Conflict theorists generally see deviance as a result of conflict between individuals and groups. The theoretical orientation contributes to labeling theory in that it explains that those with power create norms and label deviants. Deviant behavior is actions that do not go along with the socially prescribed worldview of the powerful, and is often a result of the present social structure preventing the minority group access to scarce resources. Since it explains deviance as a reaction due to conflict between groups and individuals due to scarce resources, it does a great job of explaining deviance by poor citizens, etc.” Therefore, with more attention to the availability of equal education to all people, murder and crime rates would drastically drop. Today the availability of education is very limited among different social groups, and it all comes down to the availability of money. We are punishing our own futures by ripping education out of the children who are born into circumstances out of their control.
In conclusion, the death penalty has many rational alternatives that could please both supporters and those who oppose the death penalty. At this time and age, “an eye for an eye” is no longer an ethical or just action. It is wrong to murder people for the issues that we as a society ignore and inflict on one another.
If you stuck it out, thanks for reading! J
I usually avoid the topic of the death penalty because it is a very controversial topic and I, like the rest of the world, hold a strong position on the topic. More so, I usually avoid this topic because it comes down to moral reasoning, which is conditioned differently in every individual. Those who oppose the death penalty are people who believe in a second change, in reformation, and the fact that humans shouldn’t play god, to name a few. Those who support the death penalty are cost, retribution, and deterrence. My position is against the death penalty.
First of all, in my personal opinion, “an eye for an eye” is not a logical reason to inflict death. Many peaceful world leaders have been fighting for peaceful ways to deal with difficult situations throughout all of history, and have proven that it is possible to come to solutions without having to kill. Florida came up with a reasonable alternative called Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP). This is a non-profit agency located in Tequesta, FL. They are opposed to the death penalty, believing "that as a society we are obligated to do better than to respond with a gut primal response, regardless of how natural that response may feel...our justice system is currently a retributive justice system which only heightens the pain and deepens the wounds of the families of victims of murder, the families of perpetrators, and the perpetrators themselves." “They suggest that individuals convicted of capital murder be incarcerated for at least 25 years before being considered for parole. During that time, they should be required to work at "jobs which are not slave-like and allow for some dignity and purpose of life." Part of their earnings would pay for their imprisonment, and another part would go to a restitution fund that would help victims of crime and the families of murder victims. No state has created such a restorative justice program.” Many people, out of anger, confusion, pain, and vengeance, jump to the conclusion of pushing for the death penalty. Just like criminals who convict a crime in the heat of passion, pushing for the death penalty in the heat of passion should also be a crime. As long as we continue to punish crimes with death, violence will prevail. I consider this to be a valid, solid, and rational alternative. I can see and understand why people would want to put to death those who murder a loved one, and I can try to put myself in their shoes; however I believe that we can rise above hatred and ignorance. This would prevent the death of many innocently convicted people, or the unjust punishment of an accidental murder, like in Furman v. Georgia, 408 U.S. 238 (1972). With such a possible solution which proposes to solve the common and main issues of those who are for the death penalty (expenses, retribution, and deterrence), these issues could very well solve themselves and eliminate any further excuses to keep violence around.
My other main reason for not supporting the death penalty is, like I mentioned earlier, that morals are conditioned, and no two kids are raised the same. Right and wrong is different in every mind, and for those like me, such a concept does not exist. I believe that the government and the people need to play a larger role in education. Knowledge is essential, thus instead of setting of a killing spree in the world, we as people need to examine the roots of the problem to further alleviate it. Why do people kill? This is an important question to ask before condemning someone. Some are mentally ill, and putting a mentally ill person under the death penalty does not constitute any form of justice. Another reason people who are of “sound mind” may kill is because of revenge. This is based on anger and further issues deep rooted in psychology. Out of fear and misunderstanding, society condemns these individuals to death, and in fact prolonging the cycle of murder.
One might then conclude that the further root of the problem is education and parenting. People who are violent tend to pass that on to their kids. They use many outlets for their past and current pain, including their children, and pass on those traits to their without the need for abuse. Kids learn from the parents and from their environment. How, as a society, can we deal with such issues and prevent them from being passed on? With more access to psychologists, people can get help and end their cycle of fear, anger, anxiety, and hate. I also encourage the passing of a law that requires future parents to pass an anger management and parenting class before the birth of their child. Protecting the children means protecting our future. “Being abused does not necessarily cause psychological or medical illness to occur. However, being abused does make it much more likely that one or more psychological or medical illnesses will occur. Victimized people commonly develop emotional or psychological problems secondary to their abuse, including anxiety disorders and various forms of depression,” says Kathryn Patricelli, MA.
Better funding of education can also prevent deviance in society. Deviance is caused by many factors, and though beneficial to some extent, arises out of unfair principles that sometimes leave people little choices. “Labeling theory suggests that deviance is caused by the deviant person being negatively labeled, internalizing the label, and acting according to the label. For example, if a teacher labels a student as unruly, the student may internalize that label from the authority figure and behave unruly as if the labeling was a self-fulfilling prophecy,” according to Howard Becker, a leading sociologist in the field of sociology. He goes on to say that “Conflict theorists generally see deviance as a result of conflict between individuals and groups. The theoretical orientation contributes to labeling theory in that it explains that those with power create norms and label deviants. Deviant behavior is actions that do not go along with the socially prescribed worldview of the powerful, and is often a result of the present social structure preventing the minority group access to scarce resources. Since it explains deviance as a reaction due to conflict between groups and individuals due to scarce resources, it does a great job of explaining deviance by poor citizens, etc.” Therefore, with more attention to the availability of equal education to all people, murder and crime rates would drastically drop. Today the availability of education is very limited among different social groups, and it all comes down to the availability of money. We are punishing our own futures by ripping education out of the children who are born into circumstances out of their control.
In conclusion, the death penalty has many rational alternatives that could please both supporters and those who oppose the death penalty. At this time and age, “an eye for an eye” is no longer an ethical or just action. It is wrong to murder people for the issues that we as a society ignore and inflict on one another.
If you stuck it out, thanks for reading! J