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Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
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Actor Jeremy Irons outlines arguments against capital punishment in a clip to support Amnesty International's campaign against the death penalty.
Mar 9, 2008 12:52 AM
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
A fine gentleman, Jeremy Irons.
I will say that I am against the death penalty, with one single exception - organized kidnapping for profit.
I cannot think of another crime so sickening than to take another human's freedom, then put a ransom, a price, on that person's head.
It is an unimaginably cold-blooded process to assess a person's worth, stalk and study his/her movements, await and ensnare, then hold that person, under threat of death and a deadline, until the money comes in, if at all. There are also many reported cases in which the ransom is paid, yet the victim is nevertheless executed, for convenience. I see no way in which a criminal that thinks and operates in this manner could ever be rehabilitated.
In 1975-76, a rash of kidnappings broke out in the Mexican city of Mexicali. One morning, the corpses of a band of kidnappers lay strewn on a busy avenue, and were purposely left there for several hours before authorities picked them up. It was a gruesome scene, trumpeting an extremely harsh message to any would-be criminals out there. Not a single new kidnapping occurred in Mexicali in the following ten years.
I will say that I am against the death penalty, with one single exception - organized kidnapping for profit.
I cannot think of another crime so sickening than to take another human's freedom, then put a ransom, a price, on that person's head.
It is an unimaginably cold-blooded process to assess a person's worth, stalk and study his/her movements, await and ensnare, then hold that person, under threat of death and a deadline, until the money comes in, if at all. There are also many reported cases in which the ransom is paid, yet the victim is nevertheless executed, for convenience. I see no way in which a criminal that thinks and operates in this manner could ever be rehabilitated.
In 1975-76, a rash of kidnappings broke out in the Mexican city of Mexicali. One morning, the corpses of a band of kidnappers lay strewn on a busy avenue, and were purposely left there for several hours before authorities picked them up. It was a gruesome scene, trumpeting an extremely harsh message to any would-be criminals out there. Not a single new kidnapping occurred in Mexicali in the following ten years.
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
I'm opposed to the death penalty, not because it's a known fact that it isn't a deterrent. Not because it's irreversible in this day when hundreds are freed from prison each year because of DNA testing proves their innocence. Purely because of a little item called The Eighth Amendment.
By: spam_vigilante
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
Doesn't that sort of go against the main argument of the video though? ALL humans are subject to human rights, no matter what human rights they have violated.
I mean that's an interesting story about the Mexicali kidnappers, and it's exciting in a Hollywood kind of way, but those evil kidnappers are still human and therefore deserve the same basic rights as everyone else.
I mean that's an interesting story about the Mexicali kidnappers, and it's exciting in a Hollywood kind of way, but those evil kidnappers are still human and therefore deserve the same basic rights as everyone else.
By: Hadman
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
So basically what you are saying is that you are opposed to the death penalty, except when it is used as a preventative measure in order to discourage the commission of a crime that you personally believe to be particularly reprehensible.
If this is the case, then what is the test, when is murder for the sake of prevention/retribution permissible and when is it not? Who will get to decide who lives and dies, for what crime, according to what criteria are the surrounding circumstances (damning or mitigating) to be considered etc?
The very irrevocable nature of the death penalty, not to mention the inherent gravity of any related issues, demands that opinions be polarised so that you either support the death penalty without qualification or distinction, or you oppose it vehemently in all instances. We cannot afford to be 'half pregnant' on this issue.
If this is the case, then what is the test, when is murder for the sake of prevention/retribution permissible and when is it not? Who will get to decide who lives and dies, for what crime, according to what criteria are the surrounding circumstances (damning or mitigating) to be considered etc?
The very irrevocable nature of the death penalty, not to mention the inherent gravity of any related issues, demands that opinions be polarised so that you either support the death penalty without qualification or distinction, or you oppose it vehemently in all instances. We cannot afford to be 'half pregnant' on this issue.
By: JimJam2
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
Yes, but the Murderer's victim also had a right to live. This right to live was taken away from them by the murderer. The Murderer shall lose his right to live as well.
1 + 1 = even
1 + 1 = even
By: Dirty_Deacon
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
I don't think I will ever personally come to a conclusion about capital punishment.
Yes, every human deserves the right to live. However, the victims of the criminals also had that right and they got it brutally taken away.
The last thing on a criminal's mind during a crime is another man's rights. If they can have such a blatant disregard towards that right, does that not deserve more punishment than a simple jail sentence?
Having said that, I would never want to be put into a situation in which I needed to choose another persons fate.
Yes, every human deserves the right to live. However, the victims of the criminals also had that right and they got it brutally taken away.
The last thing on a criminal's mind during a crime is another man's rights. If they can have such a blatant disregard towards that right, does that not deserve more punishment than a simple jail sentence?
Having said that, I would never want to be put into a situation in which I needed to choose another persons fate.
By: Shiggety
Re: Jeremy Irons talks about the death penalty
One of the main problems I have with capital punishment is how it is decided that one is deserving of it. The traditional argument that all murderers should be killed themselves would be ideal if all people guilty of murder were frothing, homicidal savages. Yet, the reality is almost always much more complicated and morally ambiguous.
Also, what about crimes other than murder that warrent the death penalty? What about crimes that are punishable by death such as those listed in the Christian bible? Capital punishment is typically supported more by those with a stronger sense of morality. But with such a wide array of moral beliefs, whose morality should be used as the basis for capital punishment?
Finally, examine the figures that surround this issue. Is capital punishment actually serving the purposes that its proponents support it for? Generally, my philosophy is that if something is designed for a reason but cannot justify its existence by fulfilling the needs that is was designed to address then get rid of it.
Also, what about crimes other than murder that warrent the death penalty? What about crimes that are punishable by death such as those listed in the Christian bible? Capital punishment is typically supported more by those with a stronger sense of morality. But with such a wide array of moral beliefs, whose morality should be used as the basis for capital punishment?
Finally, examine the figures that surround this issue. Is capital punishment actually serving the purposes that its proponents support it for? Generally, my philosophy is that if something is designed for a reason but cannot justify its existence by fulfilling the needs that is was designed to address then get rid of it.
By: mdcrews
