The Death Penalty Is A Much Talked About Subject - 2062 Words

Capital Punishment The death penalty is a much talked about subject. While some have strong reasons to be in support of it, others have strong reasons to be against it. The reading by Nathanson, the news article I have selected, and the movie Last Dance either implicitly or explicitly gives reasons to be against the death penalty. Berns presents an argument in support of the death penalty. I will begin by analyzing Berns’ argument. He starts by describing examples of crimes that people have a right to be justifiably angry about, such as someone being murdered (Berns 312). He uses an example of a mob of people wanting justice and argues that the law should provide such justice. However, just because a crowd of people feel a certain way about a certain topic does not mean that they are correct in the way that they feel. It is much easier for a person to stand with a crowd than stand alone with a different position. This refers to the idea of the bandwagon effect where individual s will take a certain viewpoint because they feel that others are taking a certain position. This does not mean that a position is correct, only that it is popular. The example Berns’ gives provides a weak explanation for the demand of a group of people providing enough reason for punishment being carried out. Berns continues his argument by describing how punishment makes a criminal unhappy while making the law-abiding citizens happy (Berns 312). However, this thinking is too absolute. To simplyShow MoreRelatedThe Death Penalty Is An Effective Deterrent1359 Words   |  6 PagesOn the other hand, the anti-death penalty arguments claim that the death penalty is oppressive toward lower class and people of color, wasting the limited resources, and it often hurt innocent people. American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stated that the death penalty is not an effective deterrent because it is not applied consistently, as there is only a small fraction of first-degree murders who re ceived death sentence, and even then they do not represent the worst cases of murders. Most of theRead MoreShould Colledge Athletes Receive Compensation for Playing? Essay756 Words   |  4 Pagesprofessors.† She believes that if an athlete were to be paid, this would take away from learning, and would certainly be a distraction to other students. Favoritism is brought on by the payment of athletes. This is due to the fact that the school puts so much on the shoulders of these teachers to make sure the athletes pass. A teacher will not allow a star athlete to fail, knowing that if they do fail, they could be kicked off the team. The teacher would know that they would receive a lot of backlashRead MoreSocrates1461 Words   |  6 PagesUnderneath, they were moral questions about how life should be lived. Such is the influence of Socrates that philosophers before him are called the Presocratic philosophers. Socrates made enemies, three of whom brought charges against him. Socrates was tried for his life in 399 BC, found guilty, and put to death by drinking hemlock. The story of his trial and death is the subject of a tract by Plato which is called the Apologia. Most of what we know about Socrates comes from the works of PlatoRead MoreKite Runner Essay1249 Words   |  5 Pagesbasic human rights. In the western stratosphere, those human rights were achieved in the early 20th century, but in a lot of eastern countries the battle for the women is just beginning, or worse hasnt even started. 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As the arguments of the trial closed, the 12 members of the jury prepare to put careful thought into a decision, with a guilty verdict sentencing the teen to death. As a unanimous decision is attempted to be reached while in isolation together, juror member 8 expresses sincere doubt in details of the case. Delicate personal issues came about in the room, andRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1953 Words   |  8 PagesMarijuana Medicine or a High What has been in the news for a couple of years now is the subject of marijuana, should it be legalized in your state or not? This seems to be an ongoing topic of conversation on the news and in social settings. As a parent this subject is one that should be taken serious for the future of our children and society in general. Taking a hard look at both sides of this debate can help parents weigh both ends of the spectrum. 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