Quote:
Originally posted by Timber Loftis:
Melusine, did you see my "Two Wrongs Don't Make A Right" rebuttal?
If you did, and you still feel it is wrong for the state to kill, what makes it right for the state to imprison? Both are "wrongs" for us to do to each other. And, as you mention, imprisonment may be a worse wrong. So, for you, what makes one allowable and the other not allowable?
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No, I didn't, but I see your point that the state is doing a 'wrong' when it imprisons people, too. But I do believe in law and punishment, I do believe crime should be punished and I do feel the state should be the one to do so. So it's not that I don't want the state to do any kind of wrong. Law is necessary and punishment too, sadly.
But what makes it feel 'wrong' to me for a state to kill someone is that I hold human life sacred enough not to want it spilled more than we can avoid. I don't think it should be considered morally right for a state to kill someone - it's irreversible and we don't know (although some people disagree) what happens after death. Institutionalising the death penalty means to say we condone the killing. I'm not saying you can't argue about it, just that that is my conviction.
[ 11-09-2003, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]