[SOC] Death penalty

[soc@mailman.qth.net]

Given what I know of the legal system, your portrayal is
a caricature, and misleading. Sadly typical.

cheers, Paul


On Wed, 5 Feb 2003 19:57:25 -0000 soc@mailman.qth.net wrote:
> Hi Paul,
> 
> Well, we're just going to have to agree to differ on this one. I doubt
> either of us will persuade eachother to their viewpoint.
> 
> The thrust of the first part of my post, however stands whatever the
> penalty might be.
> 
> The defence was denied that opportunity to even explore the possibility
> that DNA testing (a technique not available at the original trial) might
> throw a new light on matters and tend to confirm the man's story.
> 
> This strikes me as manifestly unjust and unfair.
> 
> Paul
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <paule@sfu.ca>
> To: <soc@mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 5:45 AM
> Subject: Re: [SOC] Death penalty
> 
> 
> > I waited a number of hours before replying to this.
> >
> > While respect the fact that you mean well, I have to take
> > serious exception to your comments.
> >
> > I have worked in Canadian Gaols for the last 26 years, and
> > one of the obscenities of our "legal" system (and I mean that
> > in distinction from a "Justice" system) is the absence of
> > capitol punishment. Anyone who believes that a person is not
> > capable of doing something, for which the just, compassionate,
> > even loving response, is an execution suffers from a distorted,
> > low view of man. The absence of capitol punishment is inhuman
> > because it dehumanizes the murderer, by denying his significance
> > and the significance of his victims.
> >
> > While your raising the issue of possible error reminds us that
> > care should be taken before an execution is imposed, that is what
> > the appeal process is for.
> >
> > And, before you quote that oft used, cliche "better one hundred
> > guilty men go free..." The result of that misused, and distorted
> > principle has been that we knowingly victimize thousands, in order
> > keep from unintentionally victimizing one. There is an old notion,
> > sadly forgotten, of justice that says that those who acquit the guilty
> > are just as dispicable as those who knowingly convict the innocent.
> >
> > As one who has to live with those you don't want to execute, I would
> > ask, are you willing to live with them for the rest of their lives?
> > If not why not... I hope you are not like many who argue as you do
> > whose core motivation is cowardice because they don't really want to
> > be responsible for seeing justice done, but want to have some dumb
> > schmuck like me do their dirty work for them, and makes me live with
> > the consequences of their ivory tower moralizing. Yes, I chose my
> profession
> > and I take pride in doing what I can to make society somewhat safer,
> > to the extent that I can, but I really resent those who squeamishness
> > causes them to support public policy that makes my work/life more
> > dangerous. As a result of thinking such as yours, Canada is now one
> > of the best places in the world to flee, if you are guilty of a
> > capitol offense, and having to deal with some of the principals in
> > recent cases, such as USA vs Rafae, I DESPISE, the consequences of
> > such thinking. And that is a polite way for me to express my feelings
> > on the subject.
> >
> > As to the development of "modern" society, you would do well to read
> > Jacques Barzun's "From Dawn to Decadence" a study of the development
> > of western thought over that last 500 years.
> >
> > Also, before you quote some of the popular studies in support of your
> > position, please make sure you have done your homework first, all the
> > ones I know of that support your position have been shown to be the
> > result of really shoddy, if not deliberate misleading scholarship.
> > They are wonderful examples of how to lie with statistics.
> >
> >
> > cheers, Paul - VA7NT ex VE7CQK - email: paule@sfu.ca
> > "Those who hear not the music. . . think the dancers mad."
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> >
> 
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cheers, Paul - VA7NT ex VE7CQK - email: paule@sfu.ca
"Those who hear not the music. . . think the dancers mad."