The Irony of Capital Punishment - 2224 Words

The Irony of Capital Punishment Capital punishment has been a part of our justice system since the beginning. For many years the controversy of the death penalty has created social issues that question the validity and fairness based on concerns of moral and human rights. Even though many other nations use this form of justice, the fact that the United States views itself as a leader of human rights brings question to whether we are practicing what we preach. Nevertheless, the majority of US citizens are in support of the death penalty but does that make it rational? In the following paragraphs I will discuss my opinions on capital punishment and talk about issues concerning the death penalty as a deterrent to crime, should it be†¦show more content†¦Imposition of proper penalty is the manner in which the courts respond to the societys cry for fairness against the criminals. Another case that supports capital punishment is the idea of â€Å"an eye for an eye† but to argue like that demonstrates a co mplete misunderstanding of what that Old Testament phrase actually means. In fact the Old Testament meaning of an eye for an eye is that only the guilty should be punished, and they should punished neither too lenient or too severely. It seems to me that the argument of â€Å"eye for an eye† I believe that it has more to do with vengeance than retribution or justice. The anticipatory suffering of the criminal, who may be kept on death row for many years, makes the punishment more severe than just depriving the criminal of life. Some believers in the death penalties see this issue as an undeniably efficient way to insure offender will not commit anymore crimes. On the other hand, many people dont think that this is sufficient justification for taking human life, and argue that there are other ways to ensure the offenders do not re-offend, such as imprisonment for life without possibility of parole. Although there have been cases of persons escaping from prison and killing again, these are extremely rare. But some people dont believe that life imprisonment without parole protects society adequately. The offender may no longer be a danger toShow MoreRelatedA Hanging By George Orwell799 Words   |  4 PagesHanging† by the visionary English writer, George Orwell, is a non- fiction prose. A Hanging is an account of Orwell’s experience of capital punishment. Orwell’s purpose of A Hanging is to evoke reader’s sympathy for the plight of the prisoner. This essay will discuss how Orwellâ⠂¬â„¢s account made the reader consider their views on the ongoing concern of capital punishment, through the use of effective language. The Autobiographical account is set in Burma during the 1920’s, when Orwell was stationedRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Utopia By Thomas More1195 Words   |  5 Pagesas an author. In Utopia, more usually sustains a satirical tone, sometimes accompanied by irony, comedy, and ambiguity. These elements help to convey to the readers what More’s truly intended message is. More utilizes the device of tone in Utopia in order to showcase the fundamental differences between Utopian and European society during that time. A prominent tone used by More throughout the story is irony. More uses an ironic tone through various characters, allowing readers to further discernRead MoreThe Life of David Gale1418 Words   |  6 PagesThe Life of David Gale â€Å"Murder and capital punishment are not opposites that cancel one another, but similars that breed their kind† (George Bernard Shaw). 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As a result of this, the murderer is no longer capable of a mentally stable life not only to himself but alsoRead MoreAnalysis Of Thoughts On Capital Punishment Essay1124 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"Thoughts on Capital Punishment† The poem I have chosen is â€Å"Thoughts on Capital Punishment† by Rod McKuen from page 928 to 929. At first glance, I had thought the poem was going to be about the death penalty in American and McKuen was taking a stand on either side of the issue. As I began reading, it became apparent this is a poem about justice for animals who were victims of the ruthlessness of humankind. It a lyric poem as the poetry is basically him declaring what should be doneRead MoreAct Upon Morality Not Iniquity894 Words   |  4 Pagesvariety of emotions: the most prominent being vast irritation alongside resentment. 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