What amazes me about the death penalty is that the countries that exercise it seem so different in all other ways but some how they agree that the state murdering someone is a good thing. Look at the three main death penalty (murdering) countries; China, Iran and USA. What do they have in common? Bugger all. Yet those three countries are responsible for 97% of all death penalties (according to Amnesty International).
Other then vengence what purpose does the death penalty serve? Certainly not deterence, if that were the case then the first person executed would have ensured a second execution was not required.
That said Van entered a country and commited a crime knowing that country had a zero tolerance law. He was stuck with the laws of that country. Australia made diplomatic attempts to save his life but at the end of the day it was up to Singapore.
It is a terrible thing that he is dead now. All we can hope is that the death penalty will be realised for what IT is everywhere. It is cruel, pointless and inhumane, it teaches nothing and it promotes revenge. Prison should be about rehabilitation.
A mouse and an elephant was walking across an old wooden bridge. The mouse says: “wow! What a big noise we two are making!”
According to AI (2004), China was behind at least 90% of all executions (min 3400). Iran 4% (approx. 159) and the USA 1.5% (59). Singapore, BTW, had 0.15% (6).
Though the numbers are probably drastically skewered. Some say China has more than 10,000 executions a year.
If 97% of children like ice cream and 90% like chocolate, 4% like vanilla and 1.5% like strawberry, does it mean that one flavour should have been left out of the poll?
No simply wondering why we can focus so much attention on Singapore while being at war at the behest of a guy who signed one death warrant every fortnight while governor of Texas.
You want to have a discussion in general about the DP, and the tag-ons about Texas etc., go for it, don’t ask. Ain’t standin’ in your way. Just not what I was talking about – but go for it, mate. The microphone’s all yours.
Wasn’t there a bit more to it than that casual summation of it? Doesn’t Texas law require the state’s chief executive to sign the warrant absent certain things as set out in the law?
Hell knows. I don’t. Can’t follow the thought processes. “Profit” is one theory that comes to mind. “Resklessness” and “perceived invulnerability” are others.
Oh I am not trying to make a case against Texan law. They are probably executing people that I would be in favour of executing - people with a repeated record of violence against others. Just wondering when the people against Singapore’s actions are going to branch out to the other countries that enact the death penalty.
Possibly on a case-by-case basis:
[ul][li]The condemned is a citizen of my own country: incredible concern[/li]The condemned is not a citizen of my own country: incredible lack of concern[/ul]
