Culture of Death (ZOT!!! His appeals exhausted, and clemency denied, troll goes to the chair.)

The New York Review of Books ^ | 1/13/05 | Sister Helen Prejean

[avg_freeper]

"Anyway I think it is ridiculous that people on this forum refuse to debate this."

No debate needed. I'm already perfectly sound in my belief that there should be no death penalty for criminals in America.

But to give clemency to the guilty while openly dooming the innocent is a much greater hypocrisy. If you're not open to agreeing with that then why should we bother with the discourse?

[timpad]

It looks a lot like this...

[MarineBrat]

[Logophile]

Ever since I first encountered Sister Helen Prejean, I realized it is completely and utterly absurd to call yourself a religious person and support the Death Penalty. To say you believe in the power of forgiveness and turn around and show incalculable vengeance makes no sense.

"Completely and utterly absurd"? As others on this thread have explained, it is quite reasonable to be a religious person who supports the death penalty.

But for the sake of argument, let us grant your point about the "power of forgiveness." It then follows that no punishment can be imposed for any crime if the criminal is able to convince people that he or she is truly sorry.

But what of those criminals who are not truly sorry? Perhaps the "power of forgiveness" will change their hearts. If not, at least we will not be guilty of "incalculable vengeance" (whatever that is supposed to mean).

So what say you? Is society ever justified in punishing criminals who say they are repentant? (And how do we know if they really are repentant?)

[Joe 6-pack]

"A couple of the most infuriating hypocrisies of conservatives and Bush in particular are the so-called respect for life (Pro-Life) yet unwavering support of the DEATH penalty and the invocation of God in the support of both. It is completely incongruous."

To the contrary, NOT exacting the ultimate price from a murderer is to diminish and denigrate the value of the victim's life.

See Capital Punishment is Life Affirming.

[Psalm 73]

"....in light of the New Testament things change."

Jesus said: "Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets....but to fulfill". (Matt 5:17)
And also those admonitions that are from the Old testament and REPEATED in the New Testament are still valid - those that are not repeated are no longer binding (sooo, we get to eat lobster....)

[airborne]

So...so far we have zero intelligent replies to post.

In reality, you are a coward! There are plenty of posts here that you could respond to. You are afraid of intelligent dialogue because you don't stand a chance!

[timpad]

It's administered by a group we call the Viking Kittens...

And, by the way, it's not that we refuse to debate it. We've debated it many times. We just refuse to debate it with you.

[jboot]

Listening to a liberal make arguments based on the bible is like listening to a fish describing a desert.

Enjoy your zot, poser.

[Pinko]

who said I'm for kill an innocent baby?

[Frank L]

Try reading Romans 13:1-4 and then telling me that the New Testament doesn't allow governments to execute citizens who have committed heinous crimes.

[Pinko]

I've actualy read the Bible twice and that has only served to reinforce my position.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

"who said I'm for kill an innocent baby?"

Grammar and capitalization skills are definitely reminiscent of the DU!

[JustRight]

"who said I'm for kill an innocent baby?"

You did, by your handle.

[TruthWillWin]

You made it back in time. Pinko has not been banned yet.

[KC_for_Freedom]

I am not into the religious aspect of your arguement, in fact I have no problem believing that religious people could be for and against the death penalty depending on what their religion emphasized. (infinite forgiveness or infinite retribution) Abortion is a clearly different situation having nothing to do with the child, and everything to do with the mother who is not giving the child any "due process".

Politicians are creatures of the electorate. I am sure that Texas justice is shorter and swifter than many states, but I am also sure that "beyond a reasonable doubt" and dure process mean the same thing in Texas as other states. The Texas system has the required appeals. I have no problem sending someone to their death when it is in fact well deserved. But I can see that a politician has to reflect the laws and people of the state. Can you say that Anne Richards did not preside over state executions during her term of governor? Get off of Bush's case then. He does what all politicians do. And be thankful that unlike Clinton he is not likely to give a pardon to a Marc Rich.

[timpad]

At least this one can spell...

[subterfuge]

"So in your mind a convicted killer is morally equivalent to an unborn baby? Only the demented left could reach that conclusion. But wait...it's even worse since the left wants to save the killer but kill the baby."

Here is a reasoned response PinkoCommie. I'm sure you can rationalize this in your teeny-tiny apoligist/whiny pea-brain. What contortions will you go to, to turn this around to make you look like the 0h-so-well-intentioned and compassionate fascist you are?

[Gingersnap]

"...I realized it is completely and utterly absurd to call yourself a religious person and support the Death Penalty."

You are imposing a viewpoint on Christians that is not particularly well supported by scripture. The fact that several Christian groups (particularly the Anabaptists) and some individual Christians have embraced pacifism does not make that stance an article of faith.

And by the way, we don't call ourselves "religious people".

[timpad]