Is this weird?

[Freyja_Joro]

I don't know why, but since a little while ago, I came up with this belief that everyone is equal. I'm not only talking about: Race, Gender, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, Spirituality, Economic or whatever thing can separate people in different classes, but things like Criminals and Non-Criminals.

This is not to say that I believe that the criminals should acquire a negative consequence, to the contrary, but I do believe that as humans they have the same fundamental rights as we. I am completely against Solitary confinement for example. This can seriously harm a person and the damage can be permanent, it's a form of torture and abuse.

But I also find myself kind of... sad because of people who commit heinous crimes, I don't sympathize with them, but when I hear something, I would go through this thought process like: Wow to be able to do that... he must of had a rough time. Maybe it's because I know if I didn't have any help I could have done those things. People just don't go killing each other because they woke up one day and they decided to commit a crime, there's stuff going on in the background.

I was always like this though. The sentimental type. People in my school know me as an unfeeling guy (female actually, but I didn't start my transition.) But the reality is that I hide my emotions, sometimes they burst out. But if I didn't hold them I would be everywhere.

Does anyone go through this? Like should I kind of feel bad for this individuals? Not that I would do anything for them... when other people are screaming for their heads to role on the floor, I'm left wondering about what that person went through...

[Anna++]

I think along the same lines.  We're all people, with the same basic needs and desires, so why is it so hard for all of us to get along?

I think you're allowed to feel sorry for the criminals, and the events that led up to their crimes (as long as you feel sympathy towards the victims too!).  Although, I do see the need for some kind of negative consequence or some form of help so they're not a danger to others.  I'm not sold on prisons, though, since I can easily believe that sticking a bunch of hardened criminals together in the same building might make it harder for them to reintegrate with society. 

[Edge]

You should feel what you feel. They're your feelings.
You're not the only one. I have kind of a unique perspective on it too.

[Freyja_Joro]

I'm glad. I find the whole, "he murdered someone, thus he most pay it with his life" thing to be idiotic at best. I don't believe in Jailing them either... but I think executing someone is murder. No one has the right to choose if another person will live or die.

[Anna++]

No one has the right to choose if another person will live or die.

I wouldn't feel comfortable having that kind of power.  It would be scary.

[~RoadToTrista~]

I'm glad. I find the whole, "he murdered someone, thus he most pay it with his life" thing to be idiotic at best. I don't believe in Jailing them either... but I think executing someone is murder. No one has the right to choose if another person will live or die.

Then what would you do with them?

[dalebert]

Black and Pink had some very good answers to that question at a panel I attended at a trans conference in NH.

http://www.blackandpink.org/purpose/

I'm trying to find something like an FAQ that might have some of the Q & A like what we had at the panel. When we've all grown up and been indoctrinated by a system based on a punitive approach to crime, it's understandably very difficult to start thinking outside of that box.