Thursday, May 1, 2014

Mapping death

Many of you know I have a fondness for maps.

here's one I got from Andrew Sullivan's page.  I present it here, and suggest you go compare it to our previous maps (all the map posts are here)

But Particularly this one.

Interesting how states so obsessed with the 10 commandments are so willing to ignore that one about killing.


13 comments:

JCF said...

Being a veteran of too many rounds of this debate compels me to note that the best translation of the Hebrew in the Ten Commandments is "Thou Shalt Not Murder". Now, w/ that caveat, whether the death penalty constitutes state-sanctioned *murder* . . . let the debate continue!

[Or not: I'm a death penalty abolitionist. Human life is sacred, and entitled to absolute protection. Period. "JMO"]

Brother David said...

Yes, the Hebrew translates as murder, not kill.

However, I believe that there are occasions for which execution is warranted.

Kevin K said...

There will always be occasions for which execution is warranted. However, as I make a fetish of mercy in the hope that God will be merciful, I do not believe that we should execute persons. This is strictly because of my religious views which I am willing to impose on society at large.

Brother David said...

That's a bit of a stupid thing to say, "State executions are morally wrong and I will throw morals out the window and impose my belief about this on others."

JCF said...

As we've gone around on this before, Dahveed, I'm willing to concede I'm speaking ONLY in a (U.S.)American context. It's absolutely immoral for Yanks to execute anyone. Mexicans will define Mexican morality.

Brother David said...

But, as you say JCF, you may only voice your opinion. My opinion is that I don't think that it is immoral for any state to execute a criminal for things such as murder.

Kevin K said...

Brother David,

I'm not saying that state sponsored killings are morally wrong. In fact, the death penalty seems morally justified to me. (Your comment here seems a bit confused. If I was saying they were morally wrong I would not be throwing morality out the window to oppose them.) I am not saying we should throw morality out the window. I am saying that I believe, as a Christian, that mercy should rule justice and, insofar as I had the power to do so, I would impose this position on society. All laws ultimately impose someone's views on others.

Brother David said...

No Kevin, it is you who are confused. I addressed my comment to JCF by name, who previously directed a comment to me.

Read accurately before you jump.

Brother David said...

WAIT!!!

It is I who have become confused!

Carry on.

Kevin, if rather than a women found to be in an illicit affair, the leaders of the Jews had dragged a man before Jesus who had murdered his neighbor and stolen the neighbor's wife and possessions, do you believe that Jesus would have acted toward this murderer the same as he acted towards the adulteress?

I don't.

Kevin K said...

I am a little confused.

While I don't think Jesus would have said go and sin no more I do not think he would have said "Kill him."

Brother David said...

Jesus didn't stop the execution of the thieves who were crucified with him, he basically pardoned the repentant one who recognized that they deserved the consequences of their actions and said, "I'll see you on the other side."

Kevin K said...

He did not stop his own execution either. I respect the difference we have on this issue as, for a long time, I fully agreed with you. To this day, there are crimes that I WANT to punish with death because only death seems a just punishment.

IT said...

I agree that there are people who are fully evil and do heinous things, and probably they deserve at some level to die. I am completely unpersuaded that the process in the US is reliable, fair, or merciful. Further, I find the unwillingness to allow for redemption or rehabilitation to be deeply troubling.

I like the way Norway does it.

http://www.thelocal.no/20120824/why-norways-maximum-sentence-is-just-21-years