TOPICAL TUESDAYS: CRIME and PUNISHMENT

With all the talk about crime and punishment these days, I started to think of forms that are now deemed inhumane. INHUMANE is a pretty odd word when applied to American C&P because as merciful as lethal injection is (and there's some debate on whether or not the injectee suffers), the US is the only Western Country that still has the death penalty to my knowldge. Now don't freak out at me for making this all political. This isn't a Pro or Anti Death Penalty post. Nonetheless, whether you think the death penalty is needed or not, most would admit that isn't exactly civilized. Important, necessary perhaps (although this isn't MY viewpoint) but not civilized. So if we make that concession, why are we pretending that we're doing an uncivilized act in a civil manner? How is death by hanging any less "cruel and unusual" than pumping poison into a man's veins? Plus, people who support the death penalty often support it because of the sweet justice it attempts to offer loved ones of victims. So shouldn't the murderers suffer? Again, this isn't my position, but I'm just trying to follow it logically.

This isn't only about the death penalty either. They no longer put people in the stocks and throw moldy tomatoes at them. They no longer let teachers hit kids with rulers.. Yet they do let football coaches work their team in 105 degree heat until the heftier folks suffer kidney failure.

If one "extinct punishment" could return, I'd love to see a resurgence in Firing Squad. It sounds awful. But it's just so shocking that it was ever allowed in our fine democracy that I think it should stay. Just for nostalgia. Stoning on the other hand goes a bit far. No burning. No drowning. No electric chair. Hanging is probably the cheapest. Well maybe firing squad is. I don't know. Actually the cheapest would be to abolish the death penalty instead of keeping people (often innocent people) waiting for 10,20,50 years. Okay, fine, this has turned into an anti-death penalty post. Here's what I say. Abolish the death penalty unless the loved ones need closure and vengeance. If they need closure, then turn the blind eye as they enact their revenge. Leave it on the field!

Ooh this is so very morbid... In case you're curious about states and the death penalty...

In the meantime, just make sure you don't commit crimes or put yourself in a position to be framed and you'll be fine.