The way i see it, a human life (one born and self aware), is sacred, i don't know whether that means the same as holy, i just know that it is something not perhaps inviolate, but certainly something to be revered.
I feel that executing someone is no different than murder, its just done in medically applied, doctor conducted, state sanctioned fashion.
There are many arguments that are put forward for the death penalty (justice, deterrent, lack of burden on the state), but the one i feel actually stands up is revenge. This is not a punishment of justice, if it were a deterrent nobody would be on death row, and as far as burden on the state, how about the endless and near eternal appeals process, surely that is a greater burden...
So if its about revenge, what does that mean...
Despite rabbinical law having opposed the death penalty for almost 2000 years, states (and federal entities) that practice are condoning and participating in vengeance. For the better part of 2 millenia, we have been ruled by theocratic constraints based on the corrupted teachings of a man who said "Turn the other cheek", did we learn nothing about compassion, forgiveness and mercy from that time?
I could never murder someone in cold blood, i couldn't make the same confirmation if it were a matter of life and death for me or someone i cared about, but when someone is locked in a prison cell, or in some other way prevented from causing harm, i am totally opposed to murder in the name of the state.
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