So heartbreaking. It's beyond maddening. Where does the friggin' cruelty stop?!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37615068/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
When the Taliban are annihilated which they probably will enjoy.
The US is the only Western country to still have a death penalty.
The US has the largest percentage of it's population incarcerated than any other country.
The US is the only western country to try and sentence 12 and 13 year olds as adults.
Who are we to comment on other countries? We're barbaric when it comes to our penal system.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
marc makes a good point....
I'm not disagreeing with anything you've written Marc. But, having had a family member raped and brutally murdered some years ago, I'd be less than honest if I said I had much sympathy for some of the people currently imprisoned.
My disgust at this action is the public hanging of a 7 year old child. It's not a judgement of which country has the harshest penal system. We certainly aren't angels. If and when the U.S. ever publically hangs a 7 year old - I will be equally as outraged.
"The US is the only Western country to still have a death penalty.
The US has the largest percentage of it's population incarcerated than any other country.
The US is the only western country to try and sentence 12 and 13 year olds as adults.
Who are we to comment on other countries? We're barbaric when it comes to our penal system."
point 1. the whole country doesn't. how many states? and sorry, but if someone is say, a serial killer of children, I don't mind. no rehabilitition for that. having said that, every state does have different statutes for different crimes. child rape for eg. in Louisiana will get you natural life and/or death. In some states it will get you three years.
point 2. per capita? i would probably disagree.
point 3. sometimes they do get it wrong, like the ten year old who was mental age four who should never have been tried as an adult and needed a hospital. he went into juvey and is now in a pen. wrong... sometimes, i can understand it, but i can see why it isn't always justified.
point 4. to be fair North America or the US in general would never execute a 7 year old or any child for that matter. nor would a 7 year old be sentenced as an adult. the "child killers" of 12 year old Shanda Sharer had people crying for the death penalty even though they were ages 14-17. They were girls and got 60 years, with two being given early release. Terrible case.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/14/04
Marc presents a twisted vision of moral relativism that just doesn't apply here. apples & oranges.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
35 states have the death penalty. And yes, the US has the most incarcerated people per capita.
Updated On: 6/10/10 at 04:20 PM
Some interesting info on the US incarceration rate
5% of the world's population; 25% of its prisoners
^ interesting. thanks for that.
"35 states have the death penalty. And yes, the US has the most incarcerated people per capita. "
okay. thank you, i was comparing it to more populous countries and i stand corrected.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
I think, if I've read my stats correctly, we have to the most per capita and the most period.
I'm sorry, but do not believe the US government on the whole is "barbaric" when the comparison being made is to the Taliban. I do agree that there are a lot of things we get wrong and need to be changed, but...it's the TALIBAN we're discussing. It's sort of like saying we're in no position to judge the Nazis.
agreed
OK, I know I replied to this thread last night and my post is no where to be seen.
^ so what was it you said?
this info about the most encarcerated in the US, brings up another debate about how it costs more to execute someone than house them for life with free medical, education, etc etc. i have the average cost of one lifer with all of these things. if you do the math on all lifers as opposed to the capital cases it still doesn't make sense.
Videos