Hot Topic #1

I really enjoy discussing hot topics and big issues. I don't know why, but it probably has something to do with the fact that I thoroughly enjoy learning what other people think. I'm not so concerned with sharing my opinion as much as learning about what other people's opinions are, and why they have them. But...to get a discussion going, I guess someone has to start it. I don't know if anyone will comment, but that's okay. I figured I would start with one hot topic, and maybe never write about one ever again, but we'll see.

Topic #1: The Death Penalty

Okay okay, possibly a little morbid. I admit I'm diving right in. You can blame Grey's Anatomy for this one (I admit I don't really even like the show that much anymore, but for some reason I keep watching...last night's episode and the weeks previous featured a patient on death row).

I will start off saying that I am strongly opposed to the death penalty. When I was younger (probably up until my sophomore or junior year of high school) I didn't exactly have an opinion on this topic, but I wasn't opposed to it. The more I've learned, and the more I encounter discussions about it, however, the more opposed to the death penalty I become.

Now, for the why.

People who commit heinous crimes should be punished. I am in no way saying otherwise. I think that murder, rape, etc. are evil actions and people should be held accountable for them. However, I do not think that we have the right to judge who dies and who lives. The criminal is being punished for the fact that they made the decision that someone should die. Aren't we then, by killing a killer doing the same thing? We are deciding that a murderer does not have the right to live any longer because they decided another human being didn't have that right either. This is wrong. We are taking the role of a judge that we do not have the right to take. We do not decide who lives and who dies. As human beings, we should be doing our best to preserve life wherever and whenever possible.

I understand that keeping someone in prison for life costs tax dollars, but killing someone does too. So that argument means nothing to me. I think it is far worse to live with your actions for the rest of your life then have to die. I think the death penalty is an escape from real accountability, aside from the right to choose who lives and dies.

I don't know how I would feel if someone I knew died. But I do know that I wouldn't think it was okay to kill that person. Yes, they should be held accountable, but killing them is not the way to do so. Yes, they did an evil thing (I do not think people can be evil, only their thoughts or feelings or actions. I do not believe that people start evil, nor are they evil by nature. I think there is a reason why they decide to behave in evil ways, but everyone is good at the core. This is also highly debateable, I understand that). But an evil thing is killing someone who killed. It is no more right.

Just as evil is to watch an execution. I'm aware they are on tv, and those affected by the crime can watch. I think that the viewing of someone being killed is just as wrong as killing them. How dare people think they are so above someone else that they can watch them be killed for a crime. How do those people sleep at night? I understand you might be angry, especially if it was your father/son/mother/daughter/sister/brother/friend/relative that was killed. But does that make it okay to watch someone die, wanting them to die? No.

I realize so many people could be against me on this. That is okay. Be against me! I like when people oppose my opinions, it helps me think about mine further, and teaches me something. Just don't be mean :)

And please remember I'm not condoning anything, and I'm not making it less serious. Recall that I said heinous crimes, and I truly feel that way. They are evil actions, and they must be dealt with, but not with murder.