Amnesty International

Thank God I'm just not Canadian. That would suck even more.  Sometimes, I guess you're just an ass, Bob.  Go sit on the fence with the rest of Canada, the most useless country ever.  Name one thing...  one thing they've done.  Ever.

I haven't given much thought to the topic of capital punishment. In India, there are convictions where the court "awards" capital punishment for crimes committed that are considered "rarest of the rare" in nature. Many of those convicted thus, get presidential pardon, where by their sentence gets converted into a lifer.
Let me ask shortly...what is wrong with capital punishment?

The Real Wizard wrote: "But this is a cornerstone of the American right - using ideology to decide who needs to die.
Fear-mongering is a top priority for this movement. It couldn't function without it."

Absolutely, which is just one of the reasons these people are so disturbing. That these people have such power in the US is incredibly depressing.

Microwave-"Hmmm... so when God flooded the world and gave Noah the 40 day cruise, it was ok to kill everyone else in the world. Not sure what the population was at the time, but I'm guessing a few couldn't swim."

Are you serious? Oh, god. 

"What about abortions? Don't they deserve some AI attention?"

I would imagine that AI believes in a woman's right to choose. 

"What about Doctors who euthenize patients?"

Doctors don't murder patients, if that is what you are implying. 

"What about kennels who euthenize poor kittens and puppy dogs?"

If you have a problem with that, consult your local branch of the RSPCA, or the American version. Regardless this is irrelevant; you are honestly equating murder with euthenizing puppies and kittens?

"But executing cold-blooded killers has to stop."

When are you going to admitt that you oppose the death penalty?

Oh, and last time I checked, murder is still murder even if the victim is a cold-blooded killer.

"And just WHEN in human history has an interest group stopped that?"

So what? Should AI just give up?

"Ummm.   the issue of human rights WILL be lost if the international community DOESN'T scrutinize Iran's nuclear program."

Let me guess, you think that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, they will destroy the world! God, you're paranoid. 

Anyway what does Iran have to do with the death penalty? Which you claim you oppose, even though it's obvious you support it.

Honestly Bob, I wouldn't bother. I am not an anti-American person and have no idea whether the ignorance just displayed there is a reflection of an individual or an insular nation, but when the well is that deep trying to draw water is a fool's errand. Reciting the history and present day policies of this country for the ignorant is generally a whiny and defensive and sad affair that we elect to do far too often in my view. If it was a real question borne from real interest people would have already found their own way to the answers. You know, what with the internet and everything.

ParisNair wrote: "Let me ask shortly...what is wrong with capital punishment?"

Well, also to give a short answer :D, the reason I oppose the death penalty is because I regard it as murder.

However, I will also add that I don't consider all killings to be murder, and some IMO are justified (self-defense, defense of others), however I do consider the death penalty to very much be murder. In fact, I think it's worse, as it's carried out by the state and (in the case of the US) with the approval of the people.

I NEVER SAID I SUPPORTED THE DEATH PENALTY....   THAT WAS AMAZON WHO CLAIMED THAT  (See my first post and his first reply)

Amazon, do you think the US just kills em because it's Tuesday?

I think "Defense of Others" is EXACTLY why they do it. But your definition of "Defense of others" is absolute and unwavering and should be the letter of the law?

'Well, they're in prison, they can't hurt anybody' is a pretty ignorant defense if you're gonna go there.

Interesting tidbit, hippos...
[QUOTE]Before Canada eliminated the death penalty for murder on July 14, 1976, 1,481 people were sentenced to death[/QUOTE]

That doesn't count all the Indians they killed to become Canada, either.

Yeah...let's show down Amnesty International and bomb Canada.

I suppose Anders Behring Breivik will get a reward of free room and board for killing 69 children?

I am actually against the death penalty, but for practical reasons:

Many convicts on death row were sentenced to death on a coerced confession, but years later exonerated by DNA evidence.

Due to the legal theatrics in the US, it costs much more to execute a convict than to give him free room and board for life.

"Amazon, do you think the US just kills em because it's Tuesday?"

Honestly, I couldn't care less. Murder is murder.

"I think "Defense of Others" is EXACTLY why they do it."

Nonsense, they do it out of revenge. Don't try to pretend that they are doing it for any other reason other than revenge.

"But your definition of "Defense of others" is absolute and unwavering and should be the letter of the law?"

My definition is shared by most countries. Certainly most liberal democracies

"'Well, they're in prison, they can't hurt anybody' is a pretty ignorant defense if you're gonna go there."

I don't think you should be accusing anybody of being ignorant. 

BTW, at least Canada has eliminated the death penalty. Oh, I forgot, in your world, nobody can change their mind or behaviour! And you accuse me of being ignorant.

Panchgani wrote: "I suppose Anders Behring Breivik will get a reward of free room and board for killing 69 children?"

Actually IMO, his reward should be the elimination of his freedom for the rest of his life. Prison isn't about 'free room and board', it's about taking away of freedom.

BTW your reasons for opposing the death penalty are entirely logical. :D

[QUOTE] [b]GratefulFan wrote:[/b]
Honestly Bob, I wouldn't bother. I am not an anti-American person and have no idea whether the ignorance just displayed there is a reflection of an individual or an insular nation, but when the well is that deep trying to draw water is a fool's errand. Reciting the history and present day policies of this country for the ignorant is generally a whiny and defensive and sad affair that we elect to do far too often in my view. If it was a real question borne from real interest people would have already found their own way to the answers. You know, what with the internet and everything.[/QUOTE]
How poetically put. And damn well accurate. You should be a writer!

For the inquisitive, I'll be brief - the list of major Canadian inventions includes the telephone, insulin and film colourization.

But worry not, I'm sure our resident yankee buffoon will be relentless in attempting to support his baseless prejudices.

Microwave is not a yankee - He's a Texan.

Ha! It's true, Texans really are their own breed.

I can't think of any other stadium that would erupt in cheers after an athlete thanks Jesus for helping his team win the game, like when the Rangers won the AL pennant in 2010.

Maybe at a soccer match in Italy ?