The Death Penalty Is A Controversial Issue - 1171 Words

The death penalty is a very controversial topic worldwide. People are either for the death penalty, or against it, and there is usually no changing their mind by introducing arguments that are contrary to their opinion. The death penalty debate is not a new one, â€Å"capital punishment [has been] practiced since colonial times despite persistent debates† (Jost). However, it was around the 1960s when countries began to abolish, or strictly restrain the death penalty (Jost). The death penalty has existed many years. However, in recent years a majority of countries in Europe have abolished their death penalty and encouraged the United States and other active death penalty countries to do the same. The United States, however, has kept the death penalty around, and continues to do so, despite evidence that it many not be as effective as they believe it is in deterring crime. The United States has become an anomaly as far as the death penalty goes. The United States continues to re tain the death penalty even though all of their close allies have abolished it. There are significant differences between the practice, retention, and abolition of the death penalty in the United States and countries in Europe, and there are many theories that exist as to why the United States has retained the death penalty and the future of the death penalty in the United States. There are three main goals of the death penalty, which are then used as justifications for continuing to practice the deathShow MoreRelatedDeath Penalty : A Controversial Issue2199 Words   |  9 Pages2014 Death Penalty When it comes to the topic of the death penalty, most of us will readily agree that it’s a controversial issue. On the one hand, many argue that the death penalty is cost effective. On the other hand, others say that capital punishment deters crime. In my own view, I don’t believe that the death penalty is cost effective or deters crime; capital punishment should not be given as a punishment for criminals who have committed first degree murder In my judgment the death penaltyRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is A Controversial Issue2057 Words   |  9 Pages It’s no secret that the death penalty is a very controversial issue in the United States. The death penalty has been around for centuries, but so has the movement to abolish it. Does the death penalty really need to be abolished? or are people just too sensitive to the issue? Origin The death penalty dates as far back as the eighteenth century B.C. The Code of King Hammurabi of Babylon established the death penalty for 25 different crimes. The death penalty was also a part of HittiteRead MoreDeath Penalty: A Controversial Issue727 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿The death penalty has been an issue of controversy, causing many states in America to repeal it and call it inhumane. However, the truth is that many citizens are strongly divided on the issue and have strong opinions on whether the death penalty should indeed be kept and reinforced or whether it should just be abolished altogether. When analyzing this issue from a sociological perspective, conflict theory is best used as an argument against the death penalty. This sociological conflict theory isRead MoreControversial Issues Regarding Juvenile Death Penalty2052 Words   |  9 PagesOne of the most controversial issues in the rights of juveniles today is addressed in the question, Should the death penal ty be applied to juveniles? For nearly a century the juvenile courts have existed to shield the majority of juvenile offenders from the full weight of criminal law and to protect their entitled special rights and immunities. In the case of kent vs. United states in 1996, Justice Fortas stated some of these special rights which include; Protection from publicity, confinement onlyRead MoreThe Death Penalty Is One Of The Most Controversial Issue1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe death penalty is one of the most controversial issues. It is an important issue because each side is very significant and they each have strong views. The five main points that will be discussed in this paper are; deterrence, loss of innocent lives, bias, retribution, and quality of the attorney. Both sides will be discussed; reasons to support the death penalty, and reasons not to support the death penalty. For the first point; deterrence, supporters of the penalty say that the death penaltyRead MoreThe Death Pena lty Is One Of The Most Ethical And Controversial Issues1581 Words   |  7 PagesSome may say the death penalty is one of the most ethical and controversial issues of all time. The issue brings forth anger among many individuals among todays society. This anger has developed over time throughout the history of the death penalty. Over time, the policy has been developed, started and evolved over time. Different states and countries choose to address the penalty differently resulting in more of a controversy. I personally believe that this policy is severely wrong and needsRead MoreDiffering Opinions on the Controversial Death Penalty Issue Essay788 Words   |  4 PagesThe issue of capital punishment is one that has been in discussion for many years. How can anyone control the life of another human being? The accused may have taken the life of another citizen but what gives anyone the right to take his. This is the main point of the question but it gets vastly more complicat ed as the issue is further investigated. For instance, the psychopath who goes on a murderous rampage might have an abnormality with the frontal lobe of the cortex in his brain. Now, ifRead MoreThe Death Penalty And Wrongful Convictions980 Words   |  4 PagesThe death penalty has been a controversial topic among society for ages. An issue often brought up when discussing the legality of capital punishment is wrongful convictions. Advocates of the death penalty say that, while wrongful convictions are an issue, those few cases do not outweigh the need for lawful execution of felons who are, without a doubt, guilty. On the other hand, the opponents argue that the death penalty is wrong from both a legal and moral standpoint, an ineffective form of punishmentRead MoreCapital Punishment On Trial : Furman V. Georgia And The Death Penalty985 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Death Penalty in Modern America, he discussed the case of Furman v. Georgia. He explores the controversy that capital punishment holds in the United States of America. The death penalty has been in practice for many centuries. For example, â€Å"In Massachusetts, where religion had played a key role in settlement, crimes like blasphemy, witchcraft, sodomy, adultery, and incest became capital offenses, through juries sometimes hesitated to convict† (Oshinsky, 2010). For the punishment of death theseRead MoreEssay on Death Penalty1342 Words   |  6 PagesCapital Punishment Capital Punishment: a.k.a. the death penalty. To kill or not to kill. This is an extremely controversial question in today’s society. The number of people who are for it still believe in the saying, â€Å" an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.† These are the people who feel if you intentionally take the life of someone else, then yours should be taken as well. But then there are the other number of people who feel the death penalty should be banned because of its cruel and unjust

Choices That Mean Life or Death In Antigone - 1381 Words

Choices That Mean Life or Death In Antigone The play Antigone was penned by Sophocles, a Greek writer, sometime in the late 440s B.C. This Greek tragedy uses a combination of literary elements in order to grab the reader’s attention. Two such elements are theme and conflict. Most importantly, Sophocles’s Antigone deals with themes, such as the conflict of family versus state, the conflict of individual versus government, and the conflict of human versus divine laws, that are still very prevalent in modern human societies (Nardo 16). The play, Antigone, has several primary themes. It raises the question: â€Å"Which laws are paramount and most binding– human or divine laws?†(16).†¦show more content†¦Creon shows that he puts the state above his own blood relatives when he says â€Å"The eyes of the nation are on me. I must stay true to my principles. I must execute her. I don’t give a damn for all her talk about family ties. If I allow my own relations to get out of control, that gives the cue to everybody else† (Sophocles 17). Creon does not save Antigone first because he has just been warned of the grave danger to the whole state and to his family from the anger with which the gods view his treatment of Polynices body. The community, even the other persons in Creon’s family, were more important than just Antigone alone (Norwood 63). The conflict of human laws versus divine laws is also a very dominant theme in Antigone. Critic Edith Hall put it very well when she said: â€Å"The very first law which Creon passes– that the body of the traitor Polynices is to be refused burial– is in direct contravention of the ‘Unwritten Law’ protecting the rights of the dead...† (56). Creon’s justification for his act is that the dead man was a traitor to his own city and would have destroyed the State as it was known at that time (Norwood 60). The chorus in the play seem s to be uneasy about Creon’s edict not to bury Polynices, but they do not dare defy the law. They seem pleased when they find out that Polynices has had some type of burial, even suggesting that maybe it was the workShow MoreRelatedPraising Of Martyrs As A Christian1639 Words   |  7 Pages Praising of martyrs is a means to teach followers of faith on how to model their lives after, the appraisal is to encourage unparalleled devotion to one’s faith. When one hears the word faith, they assume its definition as a belief and loyalty to God, but faith is not restricted only to one’s faith in God or in any religion. Faith can also be extended to one’s loyalty and dedication to familial roles. In addition the act of praising is also an act of memorializing the identity of a Christian orRead MoreComparing Oedipus The King And Antigone1311 Words   |  6 Pagesboth Oedipus the King and Antigone, Oedipus and Antigone are very alike in ways. When reading these plays, the mind is wired to compare how the protagonists are alike, and contrast how they are different. Antigone and Oedipus are idolized by the people, but the legacy of Oedipus seems to have been altered due to the fact that he has experienced bad past family relationships; therefore as Gale explains, â€Å"Antigone hangs herself. Creon’s son Haemon, who was in love with Antigone, commits suicide. ShortlyRead MoreEssay on Sophocles: Family vs. Law890 Words   |  4 PagesSophocles: Family vs. Law Family, an important theme of life, gets expressed throughout many ways in society. Family may take precedence over many things, including authority and the law. Within the tragic play, Antigone, the author Sophocles presents situations where the characters have to choose between their family and the law. The characters must choose what is more important to them, their family or obeying the laws of Thebes. Throughout the play, Sophocles presents a strong theme ofRead MoreAntigone and Hobsons Choice Compared820 Words   |  3 Pagesthe good life, it often comes at the cost of our interpersonal relationships, as demonstrated in Sophocles Antigone, and in Harold Brighouses Hobsons Choice. In Antigone, Kreon makes an attempt to uphold his beliefs and values to obtain what he views as the good life, and it costs him his family, while in Hobsons Choice, Henry Horatio Hobson attempted to maintain a certain standard of living so he could have a good life for himself, and it came at the cost of his daughters. In Antigone, Kreon isRead MoreThe Theme of Fatalism in Antigone1032 Words   |  4 Pagespredetermined - even if one knows and attempts to avoid it. Antigone is the daughter of the Oedipus and the sister of Polyneices and Eteocles. King Creon passed a royal edict banning anyone from burying disgraced Polyneices dead body. Antigone is portrayed as a heroine rebel who does not fear forces from governments, has a different mindset to that of Ismene, her submissive sister. She made the choice of burying his brother Polyneices body that cost her life instead of leaving it in the open. When fate putsRead MoreAnalysis Of Antigone Actions Were Just 1254 Words   |  6 Pagesnever a clear answer, as to which one is superior. In defense of her position, Antigones decision to bury her brother was justified because the laws of the gods, as well as respect for the deceased, triumph over the laws of the state. Morals are often independent and separate from human laws, but they should always be followed. Creon had no right to give an order for Polynices to go without a proper burial. Antigone’s choice to choose her morals, which were established by the Gods were honorable, andRead MoreShakespeares Julius Caesar and Sophocles Antigone789 Words   |  3 Pagesmoral standards, courage and honesty. Many characters showed such traits in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles (for example, Brutus being known as an honorable man even by his enemies), but of all the characters in both plays, Antigones and Antonys acts of nobility are most promine nt. While both Antigone and Antony exhibited noble characteristics, Antigone demonstrated the most honorable character due to her good intentions and integrity. Antony did not have such anRead MoreTragic Characters of Sophocles Antigone: Examining Creons Hubris 998 Words   |  4 Pagesa subcategory is the tragedy. Though not so romanticized by contemporary authors, tragedies were particularly popular during the ancient times. Through out his lifetime, Sophocles wrote tens of plays, but one in particular, Antigone earned him his esteemed title. In Antigone, there is much debate present about who the tragic character is. A tragic character (sometimes called tragic hero) is a character who undergoes a reversal of fate, essentially hubris. Many opine the Creon is the tragic characterRead MoreAntigone Theme Essay941 Words   |  4 PagesIn the story Antigone by Sophocles, the theme guilt and innocence, as wells as morals play a huge role between characters, specifically the female character Antigone, the ruler of the city, Creon, Antigone’s sister, Ismene, and Antigone’s husband, Haimon. Antigone and Haimon represent innocence for many reasons. Their morals lead the two in a direction to honor Antigone’s brother, Antigone protects her sister from certain death, and the lovers commits suicide for the sake of innocence itself. CreonRead MoreThe Tragic Flaw Of Sophocles Antigone990 Words   |  4 Pagesseen throughout many works from the Ancient Greek time period. Hamartia means to â€Å"miss the mark† (Merriam-Webster) and is often what leads to the demise of the tragic hero. In the play Antigone by Sophocles, this proves to be true (comma or this idea proves to be true) as the tragic flaw of hubris leads to the downfall of two central characters. Hubris is known as a sense of great pride and through Antigone, Creon and Antigone are shown to be strong-willed characters that both—though in different

A Manifesto for the Position of School Prefect free essay sample

Colleagues, my reasons for vying for this position are very tangible and varied. Firstly, my personal qualities compelled me to vie for this enviable position. I am specifically referring to my high sense of discipline, hardworking, academically good, physically sound and friendly. These are not all, my astuteness, Honest and ability to turn adversity into advantage are just proverbial. Beloved student, a compound prefect should be descent and well discipline, dedicated and wiliness to serve his people with all diligence. These re qualities that I am not deficient in. I know by now most of you are wondering how I will be able to realize them, I am specifically referring to my tactics for achieving these. Colleagues, if you give me the mandate to serve you as your compound prefect for the 2013/2014 academic year, my first priority will be ensuring high sense of discipline, as discipline being the hallmark of every institution, I intend when giving the mandate, to build upon the already laid foundation of the school by my predecessor. We will write a custom essay sample on A Manifesto for the Position of School Prefect or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To do this, I need your maximum cooperation and that of the administration, to see to it hat the discipline level of this institution has raising to our expectation both in mind and attitude to deal with the environmental challenges of this institute Zion. Beloved student, when you give me the mandate to serve you as your compound prefect, my next priority is helping the school create a conducive and a clean environment as the saying goes **cleanliness is next to To achieve a high degree of academics performance a clean environment is a major factor to consider. And also with help of the school administration provide all the necessary logistics as to ensure a clean and afar environment. Ladies and gentlemen, when you give me the mandate to serve you as your compound prefect, again I will ensure that with the help of the senior house master; provide enough brooms and scrubbing brushes to the various houses to undertake effective inspection. On the issue of grounds work, with the help of the administration, to ensure that at least every house will be provided with a mower as to reduce student using their strengths in weeding. Last but not the least, promise to live a life wealthy of emulation both on campuses and the dormitory, as for student to sake a leaf out of my note book. Do you remember the phrase leadership by example, promise to ensure a clean and a healthy environment. Old go on and on but the constraint of time will not allow me, I therefore wish to solicit to your overwhelming support so that I get the mandate to serve you as the compound prefect, as my motto goes **total service to mother to enable us achieve all the laudable aims and plains outline in my speech. I promise to discharge all my duties to abide by all conditionalitys and to rule in the interest of all. Long live Mother Cannas, Long live her Student. Thank you.

The Other Side Of The Ledger Essays - Fur Trade,

The Other Side Of The Ledger ?The other side of the ledger? is an Indian view of the Hudson's Bay company. The Hudson's Bay company's 300th anniversary celebration where Queen Elizabeth II among the other guests was present, was no occasion for joy among the people whose lives were tied to the trading stores. During the past 300 years, the history has been written by white men. They have only focused on the generosity of the traders and the benefits brought to the Indians. However, there is a sharp contrasting view from what Indians have to say about their lot in the company's operations. At the time of the history, Hudson's Bay company was expended over 1 million square miles of land which is now known as Canada. The Rupert's Land at that time was occupied by the Indians. They (Indians) believed that the land belonged to all men and hence, the land owned by the individual was unknown. However, they failed to recognize that the white men had felt superiority to impose power over their identities. Hence, they just drifted bit by bit into white men's monopoly and never got out of it. Overall, I think, the film has covered up all the basic arguments of the Indians and has helped to understand the period and the people of that time. It has covered all the basic problems of Indians having with the Hudson's Bay Company. In the following, I have highlighted the main points covered in the film which illustrate the basic problems of Indians and to which I agree. As it is shown in the film, I too think that the introduction of the new weapons (i.e.: guns) was the beginning of the Indian's revolution. All the other hunting methods were band. The distribution of weapons in Rupert's land was done by the H.B.C.. Since, company had established treading posts throughout the land and each post was run by the manager, raising up the cost for the weapons was in the hands of the post managers. Hence, they were continuously ripping off the Indians. During the 1869, when decision to sell Rupert's land was made, it was made by the company, not by the Indians. The land was sold to Canada at a very low price. Many treaties were written to compel Indians to give up their rights to their land. However, after the land was sold, Indian people became the responsibility of the govn't and the parliament. When the question of compensation was claimed, the govn't allowed the compensation of $3 a year and was only to those who signed the treaty to give up their right to the land. Such compensation I think, was not to provide financial support to the Indians but was a reminding of who owned the land, money, and most of all, the power. Further, the Indian's culture was also being banished. Since Indians were living in the region which was cold and off the land, they were depended on the hunting and fishing. Some of the contemporary historians (loyalists) claim that since Canada was a free country, Indians could have proceeded further in success. Well, they had legal right to go to city just like other Canadian, but in order to do so they had to give up their hundreds years of culture and place. Hence, white men's place (city) seemed frightening, threatening and impersonal to them. Not only this, but since Indians were a minority, according to white men, they must learn to adopt their rules and regulation which were to stay away from the standard life style of the whites. If Indians didn't perform accordingly, they were to suffer the consequences. Thus, Indians stayed where they were. A glance on the economic position of the Indians to see how they were being swindled by the Hudson's Bay Company. Indians were the lower income earning groups in Canada. Their income was lower then $2000 a year. Company store was the only store where Indians could sell their fur. The prices for the fur were set by the company. Company not only set the prices for the fur but, also for the goods for which Indians traded their furs. Hence, they were paying double the price then what was being paid in the outside world. The cheques that Indians received from H.B.C. were only allowed to use in the company store. This lead to the deaths of the Indian people since they didn't have enough money to buy food. Now when The Other Side Of The Ledger Essays - Fur Trade, The Other Side Of The Ledger ?The other side of the ledger? is an Indian view of the Hudson's Bay company. The Hudson's Bay company's 300th anniversary celebration where Queen Elizabeth II among the other guests was present, was no occasion for joy among the people whose lives were tied to the trading stores. During the past 300 years, the history has been written by white men. They have only focused on the generosity of the traders and the benefits brought to the Indians. However, there is a sharp contrasting view from what Indians have to say about their lot in the company's operations. At the time of the history, Hudson's Bay company was expended over 1 million square miles of land which is now known as Canada. The Rupert's Land at that time was occupied by the Indians. They (Indians) believed that the land belonged to all men and hence, the land owned by the individual was unknown. However, they failed to recognize that the white men had felt superiority to impose power over their identities. Hence, they just drifted bit by bit into white men's monopoly and never got out of it. Overall, I think, the film has covered up all the basic arguments of the Indians and has helped to understand the period and the people of that time. It has covered all the basic problems of Indians having with the Hudson's Bay Company. In the following, I have highlighted the main points covered in the film which illustrate the basic problems of Indians and to which I agree. As it is shown in the film, I too think that the introduction of the new weapons (i.e.: guns) was the beginning of the Indian's revolution. All the other hunting methods were band. The distribution of weapons in Rupert's land was done by the H.B.C.. Since, company had established treading posts throughout the land and each post was run by the manager, raising up the cost for the weapons was in the hands of the post managers. Hence, they were continuously ripping off the Indians. During the 1869, when decision to sell Rupert's land was made, it was made by the company, not by the Indians. The land was sold to Canada at a very low price. Many treaties were written to compel Indians to give up their rights to their land. However, after the land was sold, Indian people became the responsibility of the govn't and the parliament. When the question of compensation was claimed, the govn't allowed the compensation of $3 a year and was only to those who signed the treaty to give up their right to the land. Such compensation I think, was not to provide financial support to the Indians but was a reminding of who owned the land, money, and most of all, the power. Further, the Indian's culture was also being banished. Since Indians were living in the region which was cold and off the land, they were depended on the hunting and fishing. Some of the contemporary historians (loyalists) claim that since Canada was a free country, Indians could have proceeded further in success. Well, they had legal right to go to city just like other Canadian, but in order to do so they had to give up their hundreds years of culture and place. Hence, white men's place (city) seemed frightening, threatening and impersonal to them. Not only this, but since Indians were a minority, according to white men, they must learn to adopt their rules and regulation which were to stay away from the standard life style of the whites. If Indians didn't perform accordingly, they were to suffer the consequences. Thus, Indians stayed where they were. A glance on the economic position of the Indians to see how they were being swindled by the Hudson's Bay Company. Indians were the lower income earning groups in Canada. Their income was lower then $2000 a year. Company store was the only store where Indians could sell their fur. The prices for the fur were set by the company. Company not only set the prices for the fur but, also for the goods for which Indians traded their furs. Hence, they were paying double the price then what was being paid in the outside world. The cheques that Indians received from H.B.C. were only allowed to use in the company store. This lead to the deaths of the Indian people since they didn't have enough money to buy food. Now when