General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: why i can't oppose the death penalty in all cases [View all]davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)How does a desire to rid the world of those who torture, rape and murder innocents... how does that make anyone a Sadist or a bully? How does this make such a person filled with hate? I would suggest that it may be out of concern for humanity that such a person wishes to rid the world of such danger.
Personal feelings and actual actions are quite different. When speaking of Abu Ghraib we are dealing with the torture of so called "enemy combatants", or, if you prefer, "terrorists". Often these people were tortured without being charged. I believe it is different in the American Justice system... at least I sure hope it is. I suspect though, that a Nurse who must treat the worst humanity has to offer, has plenty of reason for not wanting them to be released back into society to prey upon others once again. Particularly one who has loved ones and children.
There are indeed monsters (metaphorically speaking - as to call them human would be degrading to us all) in prison, to release some of them would be condemning innocents to torture, rape and murder. To remove them from the world could be judged as an act of humanity or as an act of cruelty. It is not so black and white. I do not advocate executing prisoners, I do not support the death penalty. I do feel though, that removing some from this world would be a benefit. Had Hitler been killed as his tyranny began... had Stalin been destroyed before the worst of his crimes... Had McVeigh been killed before doing what he did... there are few who would say that any of those incidents would have been regrettable, sadistic, or the acts of bullies.