Job Discussion Forums

[johnslat]

Well, while we don't have public executions in the US (yet), the states that have the death penalty have consistently had (since 1990) HIGHER murder rates than states without the death penalty.

"The homicide rate in those states with the death penalty is almost double the rate in states without the death penalty. It is not known whether this is due to:
People in high-homicide states demanding the death penalty as a perceived deterrent, or
Use of the death penalty by the state cheapens the value of life, and causes a higher homicide rate, or
Some other reason."

http://karisable.com/crpundeath.htm

Moreover, especially since the introduction of DNA evidence, there's this:

"Seventeen people have been proven innocent and exonerated by DNA testing in the United States after serving time on death row. They were convicted in 11 states and served a combined 209 years in prison � including 187 years on death row � for crimes they didn�t commit."

http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/1857.php

However, as we all know, the Saudi judicial system is immune from making such mistakes (Irony Alert.)

Regards,
John

[trapezius]

No, I haven't, but I have seen the place where they do it in Jeddah. I would like to go see one, but the problem is the place is quite far from where I live, requiring an hour's drive these days with the horrendous traffic. Also, I don't know if/when/how they are announced, so the point of distance is moot.

[eclectic]

[BillCowher]

One of the "Faces of Death" video series had the most gruesome event I have ever seen. A thief in some Middle Eastern country had both his hands cut off at the wrist with what appeared to be the sharpest knife ever. Then the stumps were put in some pink bags (with ice maybe?) and then he was dragged outside & tossed in the back of a van. It was then possible to see that the hands had been done AFTER one of his feet. I would rather lose my head than contemplate that future.

[lucreziaborgia]

I have seen one public execution (Uganda 1974) and scores of dying people (Ethiopian Famine and Guatamalan Earthquake) and the aftermaths of a Baader Meinhoff attack and several Loyalist and Republican incidents in Northern Ireland during my career in current affairs. As John Slat said, these are not experiences one carries around lightly and once witnessed cannot be forgotten. It is a fool who believes these esperiences are entertaining.
As Sartre said: 'L'enfer c'est les autres'

[johnslat]

Dear lucreziaborgia,

I've often thought that Satre told only a "half-truth" there (I prefer Camus, anyway,) and that this below is more accurate:

L'enfer peut �tre d'autres, mais le ciel peut �tre d'autres, trop.

Regards,
John

[lucreziaborgia]

Is this on topic?

[eclectic]

[Stephen Jones]

[The Lathe of Heaven]

[Grendal]

[Grendal]

My students invited me to one. They were acting like it was a trip to Tim Horton's for an ice capp and a croissant. I told them that I had already seen one just an hour ago and that they were playing the re-runs later on KSA-1. They were greatly disappointed that I didn't want to go with them and suggested that maybe I should go on the Chop-Chop block

Grendal

[With Malice Toward None]

[johnslat]

Dear WMTN,

lucreziaborgia quoted Satre:

'L'enfer c'est les autres' = Hell is other people.

My reply:

L'enfer peut �tre d'autres, mais le ciel peut �tre d'autres, trop. = Hell can be other people, but heaven can be other people, too.

By the way, I'm not, by any stretch of the imagination, bilingual. But that's why Google translator was invented (so please blame any mistakes on it.)

Regards,
John

[eclectic]

Oh, the pomp! Yep those anglos are their own worst enemies.