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There are a lot of discussion about capital punishment nowadays. But it should be pointed that there are many facts that determine personal attitude towards it. One of them is for sure a type of society. At present principles of democratic society have been taken as the basis for evaluation all pros and cons. Some people think that the death penalty will deter criminals from killing. They are sure that a murderer when breaks out of jail will kill or injure someone.
They are for public safety. But the others state that capital punishment permitting premeditated murder is totally unacceptable. It lowers the value of human life as seen by the general population and brutalizes society. It is based on a need for revenge. Unfortunately, there is no certain answer yet. And the question remains open.
In the work well try to examine common reasons in support and against capital punishment, taking into account points of view of the scientists. the death penalty as compared to Jenkins Since the beginning of time the discussion about the necessity of capital punishment have been taken among politicians, scientists and ordinary people in America. This emotional debate has grown into an eternal conflict consuming and affecting the entire flock of society. A lot of organizations have been created in support and against capital punishment; but it seems to be uneasy to find the way out.
Lets examine some aspects that influence greatly on formation of our point of view. The main problem of a human being is a problem of choice. We should always chose between good and bad; right and wrong. But, paradoxically, there is no edge between some things that seem to be opposites.
So, how we reflex the world depends directly on our personal position in life. A philosopher will regard it with philosophical point of view; a man who believes in God faithfully will be sure in the hand of God. Executing a person kills him before the time of their natural death. Some Christians believe that God places people on Earth for a purpose. If we kill them prematurely, then we may be thwarting God's will. A realist and an ordinary one will examine the problem comparing with its interference in his life.
Some people feel that certain crimes are so heinous that executing the criminal is the only reasonable response. From the other hand, human life has intrinsic value, even if a person has murdered another individual. The death penalty denies the sacredness of human life. Life is so precious that nobody should ever be killed, even by the state. So, the reaction cannot be the same in any case, and I am sure it is very difficult to charge for an ordinary person, who is right, and who is wrong. In the writing Dirty Needle Nicholas Jenkins presents his point of view and speaks against the act of capital punishment.
Jenkins pays his attention on the moral issues which follow in its wake. He offers arguments that merit serious consideration. In the beginning of his writing, Jenkins says, ... capital punishment is a mirage...
a dream solution to a nightmare of social despair (Jenkins, 779). He states that capital punishment is not a solution for any crime, no matter what the facts consist of. According to the statistic, there are a lot of mentally ill, poor and racial minorities among those executed. A lot of convicted criminals were seriously abused during childhood.
Killing such people is a cruel act. Austin Sarat in his work When the State Kills shows Timothy McVeigh trail. He interviewed jurors and lawyers and says that judges heard the voices of the victims (Sarat, 157). At the process 38 witnesses were listened. They described how the events destroyed their lives. And Sarat calls it demand for victims fight (Sarat, 158).
Sarat pointed that abolition needs to move beyond the focus on the immorality or injustice of the death penalty as a response to killing. Austin Sarat is strongly sure that capital punishment must be stopped because it is a real thread to American democracy. He comments the attitude of the people towards televising McVeighs execution. Sarat said: If we are a democracy, then we have to see what we are doing. (Sarat, 161) He is sure that judgments should be impersonal and reasonable, because victims evidences impact greatly the statements in the penalty of capital cases. Jenkins echoes that capital punishment is only fantasy... the wish to kill without making a show of it... (Jenkins, 779).
His opinion of society is that people who kill become killers themselves and that they are no better than the criminals who commit these heinous crimes. Lets examine the foundations in ideas about revenge and retribution. Hearing the voices of the victims is the demonstration of vengeance. From the early times of the History executions were used to show power and superiority. And the voice of the mass or victims very often was a key moment in taking a decision. Sarat considers that even now the state kills in a bureaucratic procedure.
It is hidden from view. The main processes in Americas killing culture included racial prejudice, political purposes and moral ambiguity. But opposite to the statement it should be pointed that history has proven to us time and time again that capital punishment is a necessity to keep society from being overrun with murderers, rapists, etc. And as for the moral issues... are the rights of the criminals more important than their victims rights? There is a distinction between retribution and revenge.
Revenge is personal but retribution does not have such ties. It should be emphasized a great influence of victims on statements and points that personalized attitude to the case is more look like a revenge. It draws to the conclusion that a procedure in death cases affirms revenge. Particularly, it is true, because execution have become routine.
There are for sure innocent people on death row and they remain wrong sentenced. It makes us think over the relationship between crime, punishment and work of justice. Jenkins states that there is no sense in a democratic society with capital punishment. He feels that it is repugnant, obsolete, and barbarous (Jenkins, 780). To emphasize the horror of the action, Jenkins shows the methods of punishment and the pain inflicted upon the criminals who are sentenced to death. He states that that there are drawbacks for any execution.
For instance, he writes of an electrocution and illustrates the complications following it where... burning flesh... convulsing... and purple foam (Jenkins, 780) is witnessed. From the naturalistic point of view the primary laws in any society are the laws of wild nature. Lets take for example a wolf that kills flock.
As a herdsman youd better kill the wolf that has tasted the blood of the flock; because it is for sure that the wolf will do it again. May be thats why a great number of Americans support capital punishment. They think that capital punishment protects them and their families. Though killing a murderer does not bring his victim back to life.
Having examined the main points, Id like to add my personal point of view. Nowadays the society became more complicated, and a man occupies more important place in it than it was in previous centuries. We became more educated and live not only a life of our emotions but our mind and experience. In ancient times impulsive actions determined decisions taken.
But now our feeling became more controlled. We want to live in a democratic state without violence. And from this point of view I agree with Sarat that we have lost faith in our ability to figure out other ways to prevent killing (Sarat, 165). He is right in wanting us to ask a question about responsibility for the harm done to the people murdered. His point of view is supported by many politics and in the religious world. But we are human beings.
And except mind we have feelings and emotions. Lets regard the problem concerning our personal life. What would be your reaction if in some of the affairs a person closed to you dies? A man, who believes in Faith or is strong emotionally, may control his feelings and submit them to his mind. But what about thousands of ordinary people? ! Revenge is not a way out.
But may be evidence of victims is not revenge? I think that a person should be punished for his deeds. There is a saying that there is no smoke without fire. So, there is no punishment without guilty. We can argue for a long time about the case pointed out by the writers, but we shall continue to use force against violence till we are human beings not robots. Revenge like love is in our souls and minds.
Our feelings sometimes do not depend on the society, how democratic it is. Even if we wish to abolish death cases with all our hearts I think it doesnt work. It is in our nature. Bibliography: Austin, Sarat. When the State Kills.
Chapter 1 and Chapter 2. Princeton University Press, pp. 157 - 163, 2001. Jenkins, Nicholas. Dirty Needle. 2 nd Ed. , NJ: Prentice Hall, pp. 779 - 782, 1996.
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Research essay sample on Point Of View Capital Punishment
