Watching this board a lot, I’ve noticed that even from posters commonly described with liberal leanings, there seem to be a great many cases of Schadenfreude. Basically, it would seem that a lot of people who woul doppose the Death Penalty (DP) seem to rejoice over the death of people, as long as the state didn’t do it. (See the thread about that priest What’s-his Name killed in prison)
Now, I understand the emotion for vengeance, even third-party vengeance. However, I cannot but conlcude these feelings are, well, wrong. I do not agree with the DP. I also do not agree with summary execution. Nor do I think it was a good thing when anyone, priest, child molester, or no, is murdered. I am hardly an innocent, and I recognize extenuating circumstances and, particularly, that clashes of states and civilization must sometimes result in death and anguish.
Yet, if people are being punished for their crimes, then why should we be pleased to hear they have been punsihed more, by some rogue agent (by agent, I mean independent actor)?
Sometimes deep down no matter how much we detest the idea of murder there is a certain feeling of relief when someone who commits a crime we feel is too grievous, (Child molesters, rapists, murderers) is removed for good.
I don’t agree with state sponsered executions, nor do I condone people taking the law into their own hands. I am against murder but I tend to feel no remorse over the loss of some of these people. Because deep down I’m afraid that they may get out and do it again.
If it is right for me to celebrate the life of those I love, then I see nothing terribly inconsistent with the notion of celebrating the death of my enemies, and I don’t think because I celebrate that death doesn’t seem to automatically imply that I would kill them myself, or that I would necessarily approve or condone someone that did it. I would love to see certain people dead, but that doesn’t mean that killing them is actually right, only that I would enjoy it, that I would have a little Schadenfreude.
Oh, Orbifold, I hope I didn’t imply that. I just wanted to seperate a little Schadenfreude from death wishes, you know? I think there’s a distinction there. And of course, rejoicing at death is really just an extreme example of the pleasure in others’ misery. I was grinning when Elizabeth Shue’s character tripped the character Johnny in Karate Kid. I mean, the guy deserved it! Doesn’t mean she was right.
No, you didn’t. “Inconsistent” just struck me as a, well, odd thing to focus on. Eating fish sticks on Friday isn’t inconsistent with the notion of celebrating the deaths of my enemies either, but that doesn’t say anything about whether I should be celebrating or not.
Doesn’t mean she was right.