Death Penalty Discussion

Considering that the overwhelming amount of executions has placed the United States in such a shaky moral position, it is especially uncomfortable to consider the implications. America wages cultural wars against predominantly Muslim countries and condemns their practices, so it is alarmingly suggestive of an ideological belief that America is exempt from criticism for its usage of capital punishment. However, considering the size of the United States compared to the four “less developed” countries, it is hardly an insignificant difference. As for why some states continue to use the death penalty, it all depends on the context. When confronted with acts of extraordinary violence committed against innocents, I feel as if the knee-jerk response is a primitive need to see the culprit punished for their crimes to the fullest extent possible. Naturally, seeing a criminal die would be the most ingratiating sensation, and that is the most troublesome.

Despite this bloodthirstiness, cooler heads would do better to prevail—considering that, despite all of the other morally objectionable facets of the death penalty, if one were to view the death penalty from a strictly economic perspective then it would be favorable to instead imprison a criminal for life if they prove to be incapable of rehabilitation. However, in order for such an approach to be considered valid, the pursuit of revenge must not be the norm.

It is hard to say whether or not the death penalty could ever be administrated in such a manner that innocents are, without exception, spared from death row because that depends on the accuracy of evidence that is gathered and processed and whether or not a human error will inevitably throw a wrench into perfect plans. The ‘worst of the worst’ will most likely remain an endless debate; however, it is an absurd discussion to start with. Whether or not murder is a worse crime than rape is irrelevant because they are both utterly reprehensible actions.

Work Cited

What Happens on Execution Day? A Death Penalty Documentary. NifterMedia, n.d. YouTube Video.