the death penalty is murder by the state, which I have always believed is immoral. And for those who worry about money it is also ridiculously overpriced. The money costs to keep a person in prison for life with NO parole are quantum leaps less than the death penalty with separate housing, separate guards, and fantastically expensive appeals paid for by the state in question - this time Oregon.
Abolish it, keep really dangerous likely to repeat offenders in prison for life, give them books, TV, exercise equipment, decent food and medical care until they die of old age.
Shirley Miki Charlton
James Huddleston - 10 years ago
The death penalty is replete with cliches.
Cliche 1-
"Closure."
Cliche 2-
"Moving on."
Both are nonsensical conceits because you could execute a murderer a thousand time without bringing one iota of solace to anyone.
Rodger Asai - 10 years ago
Well, either you want to continue with these Sharia Law style killings or you don't.
Broadcast your deeply held beliefs widely to make sure the NSA (et al) knows your position on this.
Don - 10 years ago
Why do you suppose that Americans feel the need to kill their convicts when virtually all the modern, developed world has totally abandoned that barbarity? Below are most of the countries that still kill convicts. Followed by a list of countries that have abandoned the practice. It says a lot.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Botswana
China
Egypt
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
North Korea
Lebanon
Malaysia
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Somalia
Syria
Taiwan
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Countries that have abandoned such state killing:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bhutan
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Cyprus
Denmark
Ecuador
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Liechtenstein
Macau
Mexico
Mongolia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Venezuela
I, too, am a Christian and as a follower of Jesus who commanded us to "Love your enemy", I find the death penalty a throwback to the Dark Ages of hatred and revenge. Neither hatred, revenge, nor the death penalty will bring back the person murdered. And hatred against the murderer will only rot the soul and destroy the health of the hater. Somehow America needs to evolve to a higher state of mind.
And--if we execute an innocent person--that is a crime against humanity that cannot be undone. Too many people on death row have been proven innocent.
But the most powerful point to me is that killing your enemy is in no way "loving" them!
L. Simpson - 10 years ago
Don't you wonder... "Why do we kill people who have killed people, teaching them that killing people is wrong!" As a Christian, I believe a person should have the ability to repent and become a useful person even when serving a life sentence. With executions, we are taking away that ability of repentance.
The U.S. should be a civilized country.
Bill Michtom - 10 years ago
Thomas, since the Oregonian is on the web, it's distribution area is world wide. And, even if you consider its print distribution, it represents the huge majority of Oregonians.
James Huddleston - 10 years ago
The death penalty is unworthy of an evolved nation.Its haphazard use in America puts us in bed with Red China.
Thomas Maginnis - 10 years ago
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.
Thomas Maginnis - 10 years ago
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.
Thomas Maginnis - 10 years ago
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.
the death penalty is murder by the state, which I have always believed is immoral. And for those who worry about money it is also ridiculously overpriced. The money costs to keep a person in prison for life with NO parole are quantum leaps less than the death penalty with separate housing, separate guards, and fantastically expensive appeals paid for by the state in question - this time Oregon.
Abolish it, keep really dangerous likely to repeat offenders in prison for life, give them books, TV, exercise equipment, decent food and medical care until they die of old age.
Shirley Miki Charlton
The death penalty is replete with cliches.
Cliche 1-
"Closure."
Cliche 2-
"Moving on."
Both are nonsensical conceits because you could execute a murderer a thousand time without bringing one iota of solace to anyone.
Well, either you want to continue with these Sharia Law style killings or you don't.
Broadcast your deeply held beliefs widely to make sure the NSA (et al) knows your position on this.
Why do you suppose that Americans feel the need to kill their convicts when virtually all the modern, developed world has totally abandoned that barbarity? Below are most of the countries that still kill convicts. Followed by a list of countries that have abandoned the practice. It says a lot.
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Botswana
China
Egypt
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
North Korea
Lebanon
Malaysia
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Somalia
Syria
Taiwan
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Countries that have abandoned such state killing:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bhutan
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Cyprus
Denmark
Ecuador
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Liechtenstein
Macau
Mexico
Mongolia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Venezuela
I, too, am a Christian and as a follower of Jesus who commanded us to "Love your enemy", I find the death penalty a throwback to the Dark Ages of hatred and revenge. Neither hatred, revenge, nor the death penalty will bring back the person murdered. And hatred against the murderer will only rot the soul and destroy the health of the hater. Somehow America needs to evolve to a higher state of mind.
And--if we execute an innocent person--that is a crime against humanity that cannot be undone. Too many people on death row have been proven innocent.
But the most powerful point to me is that killing your enemy is in no way "loving" them!
Don't you wonder... "Why do we kill people who have killed people, teaching them that killing people is wrong!" As a Christian, I believe a person should have the ability to repent and become a useful person even when serving a life sentence. With executions, we are taking away that ability of repentance.
The U.S. should be a civilized country.
Thomas, since the Oregonian is on the web, it's distribution area is world wide. And, even if you consider its print distribution, it represents the huge majority of Oregonians.
The death penalty is unworthy of an evolved nation.Its haphazard use in America puts us in bed with Red China.
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.
The vote totals reveal more about the Oregonian's circulation distribution much more than they do the will of the people of Oregon.