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...
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.
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.
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.
Quote from: Freyja_Joro on December 20, 2012, 07:50:04 PM
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.
Quote from: Freyja_Joro on December 20, 2012, 07:50:04 PM
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?
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/ (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.