[Melusine]

Firstly, sorry, bad phrasing on my part - you didn't call the death penalty a silly thing, you called concerning yourself with it silly.

Secondly, I agree with you that action is better than thinking. I think we've both put that idea into practise. I disagree that thinking doesn't help at all - it's often the first step for people. That's why I think creating awareness of problems (ie making people think) is important as well. Even if they don't put their words into action, they create an environment where people realise what is wrong with the world, and if they donate money, that helps the people who DO spring to actions.

Thirdly, there's no flaw in my argument. I don't live in a country with a death penalty either, the countries that do are half a world away, yet I *can* concern myself with it. So could you concern yourself with getting food to third world kids. That you are unwilling to dedicate your life to that I understand, but that doesn't devaluate the argument that you COULD. Note though, that I also stated beforehand that it isn't even *my* argument - I don't think your work is useless, or that you should concern yourself with 3rd world kids instead of 1st world ones. I was just saying - as you said now - that you cannot decide for other people what is or isn't useful work, what is or isn't important. We're in agreement there. You would disagree with people telling you your volunteer work is useless and better spent on those in actual need. I disagree with you when you say concerning yourself with the death penalty is useless. NB, I never said that it's all I concern myself with, or even that it's one of the most important things I worry about. It's just one among many points on Amnesty's agenda. Personally I'm more often concerned with prisoners of conscience in dictatorial countries, with child labour and with FGM (female circumcision). But Amnesty's concern with the death penalty is my concern too.

One last thing: I think you might be projecting this topic on the American situation solely. Maybe because you live there? But when I talk about innocent people being sentenced to death, I'm also talking about people like Amina Lawal, who was sentenced to be stoned to death in Nigeria. Amnesty came into action. She is free now. I'm glad people thought she was important enough to fight for. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 11-09-2003, 04:02 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]