THE DEED IS DONE

[Bob Pacey]

Common sense does not always prevail.



Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Regardless of the supposed legalities two things stand out for me - I might not be the sharpest tool on the block however -

Firstly why such a long delay between the guilty verdict and associated death sentence and the execution of the 2 men? Who was benefitting from that delay? Were the Indonesian Govt hopefull of squeezing some extra big $'s from our Govt and/or the mens families to make it all go away? Everyone knows how corrupt they are over there and their legal system is so far from legal it is a joke. Seems to me it has caused unecessary distress all around. Ten years is a long time - those blokes did a lot of good in that time.

Secondly as a nation do we not have the respect to show some compassion to the families of these men. Our Christian values have been lacking. If you are a Christian do you not believe that every lost lamb is returned safely to the fold? Or that every sinner is redeemed and forgiven in the eyes of God if he has truly repented? So much bad mouthing, name calling and sheer hate being expressed where ever you look.. Let it rest. Let them rest. Let the families and friends find some peace now - they have all suffered enough.

I am more than happy to share Allan's poem in the next issue of TAT Poetry. I think he has handled a difficult scenario with tact and compassion and a lovely touch of irony as well. Nicely done in my book.

[r.magnay]

I seem to recall some rejoicing by Australians when they shot the Bali bombers....seems to me that their legal system is only wrong when it suits us...

[Cropduster]

Not all Australians, Ross.

I will oppose the death penalty regardless of the crime, the location, the motive, or the politics.

It is a barbaric practice that has no place in a modern society. If we are to stand in judgement of others, regardless of nationality, culture or political motivation, surely it is incumbent upon us to set a higher moral and ethical standard. How do you stand in judgement of a heinous crime, and propose another heinous crime as a solution

If you lower the standard and justify the state murdering people for crimes, then it is not a quantum leap to justifying governments murdering dissidents, agitators and radicals - it only takes a persuasive argument and a slight shifting of the goal posts.

Allan

[Bob Pacey]

So by your line of thinking Allan we should have no prisons at all ?

Someone commits a crime and we just say what a bad person you are but say you are sorry and you pay no penalty for your crime ?


The system is there to act as a deterrent and I shudder to think what would happen if the system was not in place. Even if it makes one person stop and think of the consequences of their actions it is doing good in my view.

Bob

[Heather]

Allan has said nothing about not having prisons Bob. It's killing people he doesn't like.

[Neville Briggs]

. How do you stand in judgement of a heinous crime, and propose another heinous crime as a solution
If you lower the standard and justify the state murdering people for crimes,

Allan

That's where people's thinking gets confused. Murder is unlawful killing, execution is lawful. Execution is not a heinous crime, the man who killed Jill Meagher committed a heinous crime. People who are put to death after trial and sentence are not victims of the crime of murder, they are being punished lawfully.
Whether the criminals can be spared execution depends not on what they deserve but on whether the authorities can find the grace to give the gift of reprieve. That's a whole different consideration.
We might argue for mercy, I would, but trying to reinterpret the truth won't do the job.

[warooa]

One thing that doesn't sit easily with me is how we put a disproportionately higher value on Australian lives.

Haven't heard (and won't hear) a peep out of all those aghast at the brutality and opposed to the wrongness of capital punishment in a civilised world regarding the Indonesian, Brazilian or Nigerians who suffered the same fate. Nor when thousands are shot or lethally injected every year in China, when someone is sent to the electric chair in 32 of the 50 states of America or when someone is hanged in India.

The 3 biggest countries in the world, where is the outrage?

The arguments are valid, just selectively used.

[Neville Briggs]

40 replies and 230 views on this post. Well done Allan, you stirred 'em up, I dips me lid to ya.

[Heather]

One thing that doesn't sit easily with me is how we put a disproportionately higher value on Australian lives.

That is very true Marty. I did wonder about the others but I suppose there is always going to be more interest here in anyone that is Australian. Once again I think a lot of that boils down to what the media feed the masses. When we are given information and encouraged by the media to become emotionally involved with the people concerned, then people do get involved. There was some publicity about the Mary Jane Veloso who escaped the bullet. Was that because she was female and a mother of two small boys and it made for a good story? I know there was a lot of publicity in the Phillipines about Mary Jane Veloso. Was there as much publicity in the Phillipines about the two Australian boys? I doubt it.