Hi all. It has been awhile since I have written....well, at least posted. I have begun to write many times but in the end I have just ended up deleting it because I have come to understand the futility of attempting to create any changes outside of myself. Even what I write now I may or may not finish. At this point in time I just do not know. Right now, there is so much going on that it is almost overwhelming and there is not a thing that can be done to stop what has been set in motion. As with everything, events will live out its life until it ends. We cannot stop what has happened, we can only recognize it. Could things have been different? This is irrelevant. What is done is done. Anyhow, I would like to pipe in on this topic, not to change your minds. I can not do this, nor is it up to me to do this. At most all that I can hope for is that we can come to a better understanding of not only ourselves, but also each other. We may never come to agree with one another, but understanding one another is at least a start in the right direction. Every time that I hear someone speak who is absolutely against the death penalty, images come to my mind of some of the horrible crimes that have been committed, I have feelings inside of me which tear out my heart and crush my soul. What if these things happened to someone I love? In (I think it was) 2007, in Cheshire CT. which is very close to me and a town I know very well, a Dr's family was taken hostage. They were tortured, his oldest daughter was raped, his wife was strangled and then the house was set on fire. It was determined that the deaths of his two daughters was smoke inhalation. He was beaten severely, tied up and left in the basement from which he was able to escape. The men were career criminals who were caught fleeing the scene. You can look it up on the web. Just type in Dr's family slaughtered in Cheshire CT. Do these men deserve to live? Let me ask you this question. What are humans? At the basest form, are we nothing more than animals? I think that this can be agreed upon. What is it that differentiates us from the rest of the animal kingdom? I think that it can also be agreed upon that it is our very consciousness that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. We recognize "good" and "evil", we understand "right" and "wrong" and most try to act in a way that would not be considered "evil" or "wrong" because of either a naturally good nature or fear of punishment. But what of those within society who act in total opposition to what any rational mind would consider to be "good"? What of those who not only have no conscience, but who commit such acts of depravity that we recognize no human, nor humane deed in their actions? Have they not forsaken their humanity with their actions? I think the difference between us is that those who oppose the death penalty still look upon these individuals as being human where as because of their actions, I no longer see them as being human being but as rabid animals that have stepped over the bounds of having a right to exist. I consider them to be less than a dog who is put down because of mauling a child because (no matter what the reason) these sub humans have committed terrible crimes in spite of humanity where as the dog is just acting based on instinct. Yes, no matter what, be it by a dog or a sub human, the loss is great, but where the sub human is concerned, I would consider it to be an intentional act of "evil" You all have made some very good points. APL, I do agree with you that there is always a possibility of executing an innocent person. This is a problem with our so called justice system and the prosecutors "job" of getting a conviction at all costs. Too many times have we seen evidence ignored, tampered with, miss handled, and manipulated. What do we do? At what point to we make a distinction that someone is clearly guilty? Take the example of the Dr's family. There is no doubt what so ever. None. Should they live? What about someone like Bundy, or Dhamer? Although I do not think that someone should be executed wilily nilly, there are sub humans who need to be removed from existence. Cat. I do agree with you that the death penalty is not a deterrent. Neither is the threat of life in prison for these sub humans, and that is just it. Many people would break the law if not for the threat of punishment, be is something as simple as speeding, or petty theft. The fear of punishment in the form of fine or imprisonment keeps many from possibly causing harm or taking something that does not belong to them. These sub human who commit horrible crimes do not even take any type of punishment into consideration. They do not care, they only act. There IS NO deterrent for these people and it should not be considered a deterrent but a removal of a cancer from society. Lefty. I think that this is where the biggest disagreement will occur. You still consider these sub humans to be human, I do not. Let me ask you something. Do you think that a dog who has mauled a child should be put to death or do you think they should be secluded away (under taxpayer expense) for the rest of their natural lives? What if this dog has done it before and this is a multiple offence? (Save Max) This dog mauled someone. The family fought for YEARS to save this dog saying that this was a freak event. The family won. Less than two weeks after arriving home, the dog attacked someone else. You may say that it is not the same. You would be right, it is not the same. The dog acts in an instinctive way. There is no malice or hate or evil involved. The same can not be said of the actions of the sub human. Their actions are calculated, vile, and evil in nature. Their actions are manyfold worse that a dogs yet hardly anyone would make a peep when a dog is put down. The only way that we as a society are going to survive is when we come to realize that there are people in this world that are different from us. Not different in a way that is harmless, but in a way that causes great harm and can be considered "evil" in nature. These are not humans, but sub humans. We have a whole government full of them, corporations filled with them, and they live among us. They kill, they steal, they torture. They embody everything that is in opposition to humanity. THEY ARE NOT HUMAN. Not in the way we recognize the meaning of humanity at least. I will not cry over the death of a sub human. I will instead save my tears for those who are being murdered by the sub humans. I will shed my tears for those who are being murdered and subjugated in our names. I will also shed my tears for all of us who are going to reap the consequences of our actions. We have punctured an artery in mother earth and before she heals chaos will reign. Mmmm. I guess I can finish... Dave
_________________ CrimsonEagle The war to end all wars can only be fought on the front-lines of the mind.
The greatest deception they have perpetrated is that we need them. Our greatest mistake is that we believe them.
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