In Helen Prejean’s essay “Crime
Victims on the Anvil of Pain”, she made a very good point that the death
penalty is just another killing and that it clearly doesn’t do anything for the
criminal and from her experience it doesn’t do anything for the victims
families either. Only last year did I decide that I was definitely opposed to
the death penalty, but I never really considered how the killing affected the
families of the victim’s. I was originally opposed to it because it was another
killing and almost an “easy” way out. However, Prejean made me also see that
not only is it another killing, but it also doesn’t provide much comfort to the
victim’s families. Helen Prejean attended a meeting for families who have lost
their child and many of the families witnessed their child’s killer be put to
death. What she saw is that even though their child’s murderer is now dead,
they still grieve just as much for their child as they did before. The death of
the murderer does nothing to bring back or even ease the pain of the loss of a
child.
I think it's interesting that those were her findings. I would have thought it would bring some peace or closure to families because for me it would be like a chapter in my life ending. But I still think the death of the Dahmers in this world would bring me a sense of closure or peace of mind.
ReplyDeleteThe death of the perpetrator may give some closure, but I believe the only way a the victim's family will find a measure of peace is through forgiveness --certainly not an easy thing but, with God's help, possible.
ReplyDeleteWell, Duncan, I like your take on this. I agree with you that it seemed like an easy way out. Also, sometimes forgiveness isn't possible. Instead, I propose we make the killers work towards a goal that would not only benefit society, but also benefit themselves. I'm not saying LIFE in prison is my standpoint, but education and installment of good values is a start. I don't think that you can forgive a person for killing your son or daughter completely...at least by yourself. This is why I believe that through steering the killer towards a better path could result in the killer living out the life of the person he killed--and therefore this could help the family forgive the man.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know if what I'm saying makes any sense to anyone else but me, but I think there is certainly an alternate to the death penalty.
I can say that I also agree. What is the point of the death penalty? To give the victim's famalies closure,right? But closure and then what? You can take the life of a killer, but does that really bring you comfort and closure? I think it is just abitter action that you feel for the time being. As we saw in the video where John Brown went before his last appeal, the victim's son was so angry and harsh. But at the end of the day, why not just forgive and more on because you cannot bring him back to life. Forgiveness is never easy, but I just could not be okay the life of a life of another human being that is going to be taken, although I may be angry I may regret it later.
ReplyDeleteNow that I read this I completely disagree with the death pentalty. Before I read this I was kind of for it because if the victim's family needed the death for closure then I understand, and they should be able to choose. Now that I see that it actually doesn't do anything because they realize that they will never get their loved one back anyway. They should just make the criminal serve a life sentence without ever having the chance for parol.
ReplyDelete