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arthasmenethil · 11-06-2007 11:41 AM

In a couple of days in my law class, we have to do a debate about capital punishment(death penalty) and I am on the "against" side. Good thing too. I oppose the death penalty. Problem is there are only two people(including me) on the against side that are actually against the death penalty, and not one of them can try to argue against it because they say it is impossible.(wtf) How is it impossible?

11-06-2007 01:39 PM

I don't see why they would say it's impossible. They chose that side, didn't they? They should be prepared to back up and defend their answer. This is what they believe in; therefore, they should be able to fully explain why they believe in it.

If they can't, then maybe they should rethink what they believe in.

The One · 11-06-2007 01:39 PM

I'm on the against side. Here's a few reasons you can explain why you'd be against it:

1. It gives the criminals an "easy" way out.
2. What if the person convicted didn't actually do it? They get put to death and later on someone finds evidence saying it's impossible they could have done it..... wooooopsy daisy Noo

There's a LOT of stories like this. Google will bring up several of them.
3. Life in prison is a much worse punishment (in a lot of cases) than death.

Here's a couple reasons to be FOR death penalty:

1. Less clogging of the prison system because the criminal is put to death instead of life in prison living off of taxpayers money.
2. Set's a very high punishment to be afraid of to common folk, so they'll think about doing a crime and maybe not do it (but if someone is at the point of wanting to kill someone, i doubt this thought will stop them.) Life in prison doesn't seem as scary as the death penalty (to most)

This topic came up in my social economics class a while ago...

Coma Girl · 11-06-2007 01:56 PM

its like that quote you always hear

"why do peole, kill people, who kill people, to show people that killing people is wrong"

if the death penalty is legal, then it would be a contradiction.

plus, it owuld just be an escape route rather than an actual punishment.

thewake · 11-06-2007 02:38 PM

I have a good one:
Do you actually trust government with all that power? I mean, power corrupts right? So wouldn't this power be very corrupting?

thoughtmaker · 11-06-2007 02:53 PM

i'm against it for all the reasons above.

arthasmenethil · 11-07-2007 12:33 AM

Infected Hazard Wrote:I don't see why they would say it's impossible. They chose that side, didn't they? They should be prepared to back up and defend their answer. This is what they believe in; therefore, they should be able to fully explain why they believe in it.

If they can't, then maybe they should rethink what they believe in.

They did not choose to be on that side. There are only two people in the class who are against it. The teacher put some of the "for" people on the "against" side to have an equal number on both sides.

Faust · 11-07-2007 12:39 AM

Heh. This reminds me of the time in Seventh Grade when we had "debates" about some things. The question "Should we have to go to school?" popped up. Evil

I had prepared for every argument she could have thrown at me from my time conversing with countless "Guidance Counselors", my parents, other adults, and even some other teachers. I argued like I had done countless times before, only this time I won. My History Teacher got angry that I had basically said that her institution was dumbing children down and ruining their futures and their educations, and indirectly decrying her job, but she had no recourse. She lost miserably.

Of course, even though I held the sound, compelling argument, the other students in the class looked at me oddly and said:

"But we have to go to school! How could we learn without it?"

I understood. This was pointless. The week before, by majority vote, these same children voted in favour of government surveillance for their own good. I was disgusted. But then, what was my word against that of a century-old Institution? Their minds have been susceptible to the moulding hands of the School for too long. They cannot question their condition now. Their opinions have been made for them.

xxx-rage-against-life-xxx · 11-07-2007 12:44 AM

GenKai Wrote:Heh. This reminds me of the time in Seventh Grade when we had "debates" about some things. The question "Should we have to go to school?" popped up. I had prepared for every argument she could have thrown at me from my time conversing with countless "Guidance Counselors", my parents, other adults, and even some other teachers. I argued like I had done countless times before, only this time I won. My History Teacher got angry that I had basically said that her institution was dumbing children down and ruining their futures and their educations, and indirectly decrying her job, but she had no recourse. She lost miserably.

Of course, even though I held the sound, compelling argument, the other students in the class looked at me oddly and said:

"But we have to go to school! How could we learn without it?"

I understood. This was pointless. The week before, by majority vote, these same children voted in favour of government surveillance for their own good. I was disgusted. But then, what was my word against that of a century-old Institution? Their minds have been susceptible to the moulding hands of the School for too long. They cannot question their condition now. Their opinions have been made for them.

Then what happened?

**SoulRiser** · 11-07-2007 05:04 AM

The mere possibility of executing an innocent person is enough reason to be against the death penalty, I think. Not to mention that people do bad things and might be sorry later. They may even become good people. If you kill them now, you'll be denying them that chance.

thewake · 11-07-2007 05:08 AM

Not to mention people just shouldn't have the right to each other, period.

The Wadekarl · 11-07-2007 05:11 AM

SoulRiser Wrote:Not to mention that people do bad things and might be sorry later. They may even become good people. If you kill them now, you'll be denying them that chance.

I don't think murderers deserve second chances.

thewake · 11-07-2007 06:35 AM

Nobody deserves death, even a murderer who gave it.

Plus, what gives people the right to take another's life? We aren't gods! Life is precious, all the way from people like Hitler to Gandhi.

Darthmat · 11-07-2007 06:44 AM

SoulRiser Wrote:The mere possibility of executing an innocent person is enough reason to be against the death penalty, I think. Not to mention that people do bad things and might be sorry later. They may even become good people. If you kill them now, you'll be denying them that chance.

Serial murderers don't deserve that chance.

KitsuneSefam · 11-07-2007 08:27 AM

School makes everything that is fun BORING!

xxx-rage-against-life-xxx · 11-07-2007 08:30 AM

WasabiClock Wrote:School makes everything that is fun BORING!

Thanks for the INFO!

KitsuneSefam · 11-07-2007 08:43 AM

xxx-rage-against-life-xxx Wrote:
WasabiClock Wrote:School makes everything that is fun BORING!

Thanks for the INFO!

FFFF

11-07-2007 11:15 AM

christillusion Wrote:They did not choose to be on that side. There are only two people in the class who are against it. The teacher put some of the "for" people on the "against" side to have an equal number on both sides.

But even then, those people who are actually against death penalty shouldn't say it's impossible to argue against the opposing side.

They should have some reason for coming to the conclusion that death penalty, in their opinion, shouldn't exist.

arthasmenethil · 11-07-2007 11:43 AM

Infected Hazard Wrote:
christillusion Wrote:They did not choose to be on that side. There are only two people in the class who are against it. The teacher put some of the "for" people on the "against" side to have an equal number on both sides.

But even then, those people who are actually against death penalty shouldn't say it's impossible to argue against the opposing side.

They should have some reason for coming to the conclusion that death penalty, in their opinion, shouldn't exist.

I am confused

Darthmat · 11-07-2007 01:12 PM

IH is saying that whether or not you agree with something you should be able to deabte the other side.

thewake · 11-07-2007 01:22 PM

darthmat Wrote:
SoulRiser Wrote:The mere possibility of executing an innocent person is enough reason to be against the death penalty, I think. Not to mention that people do bad things and might be sorry later. They may even become good people. If you kill them now, you'll be denying them that chance.
Serial murderers don't deserve that chance.

Everyone does. That person is just as human as you, darthmat.

Darthmat · 11-07-2007 01:32 PM

No human would kill over and over. A serial killer is not human.

**SoulRiser** · 11-08-2007 01:27 AM

Quote:I don't think murderers deserve second chances.

Let's assume that they don't deserve a second chance. That is precisely why they should get one - it will set a good example. If some guy murdered some other guy out of revenge for something, he won't just get more "revenge" forced upon him, he'll get to see forgiveness in action. It might not work for psychos and serial killers, but how common are those really?

I think everyone deserves second chances though. Even third and fourth chances. Holding grudges just eats you up on the inside and doesn't solve anything. Killing people is so much easier than forgiving them.

Darthmat · 11-08-2007 08:30 AM

So someone who kills once is forgiven,(after punishment of some kind) then he kills again....

What are the odds he got the lesson?

**SoulRiser** · 11-08-2007 08:36 AM

Then I guess he didn't, but it doesn't mean he never will. And besides, people who are a danger to others should be kept away from people so they can't do so much damage. It isn't necessary to kill them.

Darthmat · 11-08-2007 08:40 AM

So people in jail should be exposed to this person?

**SoulRiser** · 11-08-2007 09:41 AM

The only people IN jail in the first place should be people who are a danger to others, and they should be kept safe from each other and get psychological help. Jail should be more like a mental hospital or something. Not like jails nowadays.

Darthmat · 11-08-2007 09:43 AM

I agree with you thier, however when peopel commit a crime I don't see why thier shouldn't be a fitting punishment. (this is in general, you have convinced me of being against the death penalty)

**SoulRiser** · 11-08-2007 09:49 AM

I doubt I'd be able to convince many people against punishment anyway, so let's not go there Razz

I'm weird like that.

arthasmenethil · 11-08-2007 10:10 AM

The debate is tomorrow. I have tons of arguments.

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