Comments | mozartfan1313: The Death Penalty

mozartfan1313

The Death Penalty

Sep 13, 2007 23:22

I'm taking a non-fiction literature course this year which will go towards my English degree and I'm already finding it fascinating. The first piece we had to read was Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, which I've read before. My professor led an incredible class discussion about the style in which Capote wrote and what his intentions may have been in ( Read more... )

richard hickcock, truman capote, school, death penalty, in cold blood, perry smith

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amelialourdes September 15 2007, 03:49:30 UTC

I think I'm completely torn on this issue. My 8th grade teacher was really against the penalty for the reason that there's no lesson learned by dying. They [the murderers] won't suffer when they are put to death. It's quick for them, mostly painless and pointless. They should live with their guilt and have their freedom taken away from them. On the other hand -- prisons here are grossly overcrowded. I'm not saying kill them all so there'll be more room but just solve the problem as to why there are so many people in prison, particularly minorities. This is of course the least of my country's problems right now.

mozartfan1313 September 15 2007, 17:38:18 UTC

See, I understand that prisons are overcrowded, especially in certain states, yet I don't think that justifies having the death penalty. I mean, if terminally ill patients living at a hospital were left to die because there wasn't enough room for them than a huge fuss would be kicked up over the inhumanity of it all. Yes, these people are cruel, unstable prisoners, but I don't believe you can say that one set of people deserve to live while others should die.

But, that being said, I do understand the overcrowding issue and it's effect on the prisons. This is only part of why the death penalty is such a huge issue.

amelialourdes September 16 2007, 02:35:28 UTC

Prisons are overcrowded and that totally isn't my justification for the death penalty. Ha, that would be such a cruel thing to say to kill them all to free up some room. The probably is definitely WHY people end up in prison particularly black and Hispanic people. It just shows how racism is still extremely prevalent in this country -- obviously ( ... )

mozartfan1313 September 16 2007, 04:16:52 UTC

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were using overcrowding as a justification for the death penalty. I just meant that, in general, that seems to be some people's reasoning behind it and it doesn't make sense to me.

I didn't realize that it was hard for you to be true to yourself where you live. Don't you live near San Francisco? I thought that was a fairly open-minded place to live, regarding race and homosexuality.

amelialourdes September 16 2007, 06:11:23 UTC

Oh it's okay! I just looked back at what I said and I was correcting myself in your post, lol. You're right -- it really doesn't make any sense for justification.

I live NEAR San Francisco but you travel two hours in the other direction and it's a completely different world. I certainly feel more comfortable in San Francisco. I got that same vibe when I was in Vancouver. It felt incredibly freeing to be in a city that didn't feel judgmental.

mozartfan1313 September 17 2007, 03:35:41 UTC

If I had to visit the States, San Francisco would be at the top of my list. It sounds a lot like Toronto.

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