Death Penalty
January 3rd, 2007 |
This issue came up due to the recent execution of Saddam Hussein, a man who ordered the deaths of more than 100,000 Kurds during the Al-Anfal campaign of 1987–88. What do you do with the Saddam Husseins, Pol Pots, Joseph Stalins and Adolph Hitlers of the world? While I think that those who commit these kinds of horrible crimes on a broad scale against thousands should be tried in an international forum, I can accept a death penalty outcome. It is hypocritical of me to hold this view in light of my feelings toward the death penalty in general. But, there it is. I think that there are some acts against mankind that are so abhorrent that the perpetrator should be executed. If the society of the world, via international tribunal, votes to condemn a human to death based upon grievous acts towards the fellow person, then so be it. (It should be noted that this form of trial was not used in the case of Saddam Hussein and therefor I believe the “legitimacy” of his execution is now in doubt.)
I feel differently regarding the use of the death penalty by my own government.
The United States certainly has some pretty bad company around the world in regards to countries that continue to use the death penally as a legal form of punishment (countries detailed in red). China, Iran, Pakistan? These countries are not members of a club that I want to be associated with.
I do not accept the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment in the United States. Supporters of the death penalty state that it deters crime (which it does not), it prevents a repeat offense (so would life in prison) and is an appropriate punishment for the crime of murder.
Whether it is an appropriate punishment for crime is debatable, but it is certainly much more expensive than a sentence of life imprisonment. Death penalty supporters state correctly that it is the “endless appeals” that increase the cost of keeping a prisoner on death row. But limiting the legal recourse of an individual who is facing the ultimate punishment would be unconscionable.
Life in prison without the possibility of parole is the answer to every argument in favor of the death penalty save one: revenge. I am afraid that those who would hold this argument as their last defense of the death penalty do not understand the real meaning of the word justice, nor are they ever truly and ultimately satisfied in its outcome.
