So, I'm watching "Assignment:Discovery" on one of the plethora of Discovery channels that have recently appeared on my satellite TV package. As near as I can tell, it is pre-packaged drivel to keep teachers from actually having to learn anything about a subject before they teach it to your kids.
Anyway, this edition was on the 8th amendment, and dealt with the evils of the death penalty (and focused on Huntsville, Texas). The actual program wasn't too bad, and presented things in a straight documentary style. What pissed me off were the learning issues at the end:
Issue #1
Discuss whether lethal injection is less "cruel and unusual" than electrocution.
Issue #2
Read the 8th and 14th amendments to the constitution. Hold a class debate about whether the death penalty is a violation of civil rights.
I don't have that many problems with the way issue 2 is worded, except wonder if the victims are allowed any rights in this discussion. At least there is the possibility that you will decide that the death penalty does not violate civil rights. Although I would like to see one of the teachers notes for the program - I bet I can guess which way they are supposed to steer the discussion.
Issue 1 bothers me, though. Notice that the only option we are given is to decide if 1 method of execution is more cruel and unusual than another. No room at all for the possibility that lethal injection is not cruel and unusual punishment. And once you have everyone agreeing that lethal injection is cruel and unusual (just "less" so than other forms), and since cruel and unusual punishment is prohibited.................
But of course, I'm sure the leading wording of the question is purely unintentional. I can't wait to see the "learning issues" that come out of the Assignment:Discovery program dealing with the second amendment.
Oh, Yeah,
Is the victim given a choice of the fate that befalls them? No. Neither should the criminal.
A perpetrator makes the choice to commit a crime and take away the rights of another. The victim doesn't get a say as his/her rights are violated.
Me thinks that once you've been convicted of a crime like this that one should lose all rights. Seems like an obvious and overly simple solution. But, there are those who want to argue this to pieces.
I have this to say to those who might attempt to commit a crime against me or my children: Watch your fucking back, sucker. Life will NOT be good for you should I catch you. Screw your damn rights. You don't deserve them.
Now, can someone please finish cleaning my gun so that I can load it?
Posted by: Da Goddess on January 4, 2003 12:45 AM