What A Productive Day...
--Today's the first Saturday in a long while where I did substantial schoolwork, and it actually feels kinda good. Although it does feel weird not "partying" or anything like that at this time of night, but that must be saved for next weekend, when mayhem will ensue.
--My poli sci class on human rights has really got me thinking about the death penalty in the U.S. One of the treaties ratified by the U.S. (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) specifies that the death penalty must not be administered to those under the age of 18. Of course, the U.S. reserved the right to ignore this provision...but were our leaders really wrong in doing so? Had Dylan Harris and Eric Klebold, the Columbine killers, not shot themselves, would prosecutors in the State of Colorado pressed to try the teens as adults and therefore subject them to the death penalty? How many people would have argued against putting to death two "under 18" teens who killed so many people at random? I'm not conclusive on this yet, but I do think that in certain, extenuating circumstances, executing those under the age of 18 for capital crimes might be justified.
--I don't really have any gay friends or anything, but still I'm glad the legislature finally passed a gay-rights bill. I hope bigots like Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church go straight to Hell for suggesting that homosexuals won't get into Heaven. From all I've learned from this "pastor", Jesus must have been a pretty hateful guy. Thankfully, my own religious experience has taught me otherwise. Actually, I take that back...I should be tolerant of "Pastor" Hutcherson's views... But where do you draw the line between a belief and a ridiculous fallacy?
--My poli sci class on human rights has really got me thinking about the death penalty in the U.S. One of the treaties ratified by the U.S. (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) specifies that the death penalty must not be administered to those under the age of 18. Of course, the U.S. reserved the right to ignore this provision...but were our leaders really wrong in doing so? Had Dylan Harris and Eric Klebold, the Columbine killers, not shot themselves, would prosecutors in the State of Colorado pressed to try the teens as adults and therefore subject them to the death penalty? How many people would have argued against putting to death two "under 18" teens who killed so many people at random? I'm not conclusive on this yet, but I do think that in certain, extenuating circumstances, executing those under the age of 18 for capital crimes might be justified.
--I don't really have any gay friends or anything, but still I'm glad the legislature finally passed a gay-rights bill. I hope bigots like Ken Hutcherson of Antioch Bible Church go straight to Hell for suggesting that homosexuals won't get into Heaven. From all I've learned from this "pastor", Jesus must have been a pretty hateful guy. Thankfully, my own religious experience has taught me otherwise. Actually, I take that back...I should be tolerant of "Pastor" Hutcherson's views... But where do you draw the line between a belief and a ridiculous fallacy?