By Titi Ogundele
om those in the Middle East to that of the United States have used the death penalty, better known as capital punishment, to rid society of evil-doers. Depending on the culture, crimes that deserve this ultimate punishment range from robbery to mass murder. It can be agreed that attempts have been made to make the methods of execution more humane. For example, hanging in the United States has been replaced with lethal injections. However, even if current practices are somewhat more humane than they were in the past and that is questionable capital punishment is a very controversial topic in that it remains a violation of the number one right of all humanity: the right to life. In this year’s conference, the General Assembly, specifically committee three, will have to find a way to address the question of killing in the name of “justice”. As of now, 90 countries and territories, such as South Africa, Vatican City, Spain, and the United Kingdom have abolished the death penalty for all crimes;11 countries, such as Lebanon, Kuwait, Guinea, and Belize, have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes, such as wartime crimes or murder; 32 countries, such as Austria, Algeria, and Brunei, rarely apply it in practice, and 64 countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, retain it.Why is it so hard to get rid of capital punishment if it’s seen as morally questionable? Support is the answer. Although most of Europe is opposed to the practice, there are still many areas where it is supported. Countries that tend to use capital punishment are fully developed countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and The United States. We must not forget that China, the country that carried out the most executions in 2006, reported a staggering 1,010, although it may be that the real number is between 7,500 and 8,000. With powerful advocates such as these, abolishment of capital punishment is nearly impossible.In the past, the death penalty was abolished in some countries, only to be reestablished later. Countries that did so were the United States from 1973-1977, India from 1995-2004, and the Philippines from 1987-1993, but the latter then abolished it again in 2006.Those opposed to the death penalty may ask: If it is supposed to set an example to prevent crimes, why do people continue to commit crimes anyway?. Certainly the death penalty is not a fool-proof way to get rid of society’s evil-doers. Another issue raised by opponents of capital punishment is: who decide who lives or dies? What if a mistake is made, and an innocent person is executed? Such a death would be both spiritually and morally wrong. God, according to most religious views, should decide who lives or dies, not man, for only God is infallible.How can anyone make a moral decision on so difficult a question, especially when our holy books and leaders tell us two different things? For example, the Dhammapada, a Buddhist holy book, states that since everyone fears punishment and death, one should not kill or cause any one to be killed. Clearly, then, killing is wrong according to Buddhist teachings. However, countries such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is the official religion, practice the death penalty. Even the Bible gives mixed messages about the issue of killing. In the Old Testament, the eye-for-an-eye mentality was accepted in terms of punishment; however, in the New Testament, we are taught to turn the other cheek and forgive those who have done wrong. Which guideline is appropriate ?
om those in the Middle East to that of the United States have used the death penalty, better known as capital punishment, to rid society of evil-doers. Depending on the culture, crimes that deserve this ultimate punishment range from robbery to mass murder. It can be agreed that attempts have been made to make the methods of execution more humane. For example, hanging in the United States has been replaced with lethal injections. However, even if current practices are somewhat more humane than they were in the past and that is questionable capital punishment is a very controversial topic in that it remains a violation of the number one right of all humanity: the right to life. In this year’s conference, the General Assembly, specifically committee three, will have to find a way to address the question of killing in the name of “justice”. As of now, 90 countries and territories, such as South Africa, Vatican City, Spain, and the United Kingdom have abolished the death penalty for all crimes;11 countries, such as Lebanon, Kuwait, Guinea, and Belize, have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes, such as wartime crimes or murder; 32 countries, such as Austria, Algeria, and Brunei, rarely apply it in practice, and 64 countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and the most powerful nation on earth, the United States, retain it.Why is it so hard to get rid of capital punishment if it’s seen as morally questionable? Support is the answer. Although most of Europe is opposed to the practice, there are still many areas where it is supported. Countries that tend to use capital punishment are fully developed countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and The United States. We must not forget that China, the country that carried out the most executions in 2006, reported a staggering 1,010, although it may be that the real number is between 7,500 and 8,000. With powerful advocates such as these, abolishment of capital punishment is nearly impossible.In the past, the death penalty was abolished in some countries, only to be reestablished later. Countries that did so were the United States from 1973-1977, India from 1995-2004, and the Philippines from 1987-1993, but the latter then abolished it again in 2006.Those opposed to the death penalty may ask: If it is supposed to set an example to prevent crimes, why do people continue to commit crimes anyway?. Certainly the death penalty is not a fool-proof way to get rid of society’s evil-doers. Another issue raised by opponents of capital punishment is: who decide who lives or dies? What if a mistake is made, and an innocent person is executed? Such a death would be both spiritually and morally wrong. God, according to most religious views, should decide who lives or dies, not man, for only God is infallible.How can anyone make a moral decision on so difficult a question, especially when our holy books and leaders tell us two different things? For example, the Dhammapada, a Buddhist holy book, states that since everyone fears punishment and death, one should not kill or cause any one to be killed. Clearly, then, killing is wrong according to Buddhist teachings. However, countries such as Thailand and Sri Lanka, where Buddhism is the official religion, practice the death penalty. Even the Bible gives mixed messages about the issue of killing. In the Old Testament, the eye-for-an-eye mentality was accepted in terms of punishment; however, in the New Testament, we are taught to turn the other cheek and forgive those who have done wrong. Which guideline is appropriate ?
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