1. [OFF TOPIC] Re: (Re: For Robert Craig) stop whining
Irv,
While I don't have the *slightest* problem with lethal punishment for the
*perpetrators* of any of the horrific examples you cited, I would wonder how
you would feel if you were *accused* of some similar crime, and were in fact
*innocent*, but were nonetheless *convicted*, and then executed?
>From various recent findings of innocence (via DNA testing), I think any
reasonable person would have to admit that there are almost certainly
innocent persons in prison and on death row besides those who have been
discovered, and some who have been executed. While I would not disagree
that "something" *certainly* needs to be done to reduce violence in our
society, I would suggest that an *innocent* person being murdered by
officials of our own government is somehow worse in principle than being
murdered by a slimewad, because of the betrayal of trust involved. We
"loan" our government authority over us in the expectation that we will be
treated fairly and justly by it; but when justice is "hurried", that is
exactly when injustice is made possible.
Dan Moyer
----- Original Message -----
From: "Irv" <irv at ELLIJAY.COM>
To: <EUPHORIA at LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 4:27 PM
Subject: Re: (Re: For Robert Craig) stop whining
> On Wed, 15 Nov 2000, Fam. Nieuwenhuijsen wrote:
>
> > In my humble opinion software and music piracy shouldn't be fought, but
it
> > should be healed & integrated. Solutions should be found, but I guess in
> > today moralistic world, it easier to point, shoot and execute (f#$ck
Bush,
> > arggg. just a typical dutch frase 
than to solve a problem.
>
> Well, I suppose it is terribly wrong for us to take the moralistic view
that
> the life of an 11-year-old schoolgirl is any more valuable than that of
the
> grown man who raped and murdered her.
>
> Surely the guy who abducted, raped, and bludgeoned to death that
7-year-old
> is just as deserving of our concern as she was.
>
> Shouldn't we feel sorry for the ex-con who stabbed to death a 22-year-old
woman
> after having been released only 3 months earlier from a 5 year sentence
on a
> previous rape charge?
>
> We should really feel sorry for the guy who shot and killed the liquor
store
> owner, because he seems to be such a slow learner. After all, he had
already
> served 9 years for burglary and assault, 5 years for theft, and 8 years
for
> murder and assault.
>
> How about the parolee who abducted and killed a 20-year-old man
> in order to get his VCR? This parolee had already served 5 years for
> auto theft and another 2 year term for burglary of a motor vehicle.
>
> We surely shouldn't judge the guy who killed a 50-year-old female
> clerk at a dry-cleaners. She chose to work for a living, he chose to kill.
>
> How about the 20-year-old roofer who abducted and killed a 13-year-old
girl
> and a 14-year-old boy? Wouldn't it be better to just put him in jail for
a few
> years, where he could learn some skill, such as how to kill 4 at a time?
>
> Ralf, I have a deal for you:
> You bring back that 7-year-old girl, and I'll agree that those 9 (and I
use the
> word loosly) "men" should avoid the death penalty. Or are is it only the
> criminals who "deserve" to live?
>
> Regards,
> Irv
