Monday, September 27, 2010

Author Scott Turow: 3 Minutes on the Death Penalty. By Geniusofdespair

I brought you all back something from Washington, I always think of my readers even when I am on vacation visiting Barack. On Saturday I taped best-selling Author Scott Turow answering a question on capital punishment at the National Book Fair in Washington D.C. Must have been 98 degrees in the tent but I knew you guys would have wanted to hear some of his speech and I picked out the best part for you. In this segment Turow tells you how he evolved to be against the death penalty. If you can't spare the less than three minutes to listen to the video I pulled out an interesting quote (video has good sound, crappy picture - except it is amusing to watch the fidgeting people in front of me as you listen):

"The death penalty basically rests on a faulty premise that we can kind of create moral order out of something that is bound to function so haphazardly."
If you don't see video, use this link, it is worth a listen.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

There should never be a case of an innocent person being put to death. If we can't prove beyond a shadow of doubt with DNA or a caught red-handed approach to evidence then these people should be acquitted period. You will never create moral order. There will always be misfits in a society and capital punishment will continue help cull them when handed down appropriately.

Anonymous said...

IF,and I repeat IF, there is solid evidence (not eye witness crap or circumstantial)that someone who committed a crime, which they could pursue the death penalty, beyond a reasonable doubt, well, I'd actually prefer they'd use the old English 1400's method to kill them. I also think anyone who molests a child doesn't need to be on the planet and deserves death - but that's just me!

Anonymous said...

If you willfully end someone else's life, you forfeit your own.

Geniusofdespair said...

watch the video please, because your comments are not making sense.

He is saying: HOW DO YOU KNOW?

Anonymous said...

We did watch the video. We are saying as long as you you rock solid evidence, ie DNA or caught in the act, then it's okay to pursue whatever the punishment may be.

Anonymous said...

The fidgety people are priceless!

Anonymous said...

When translating from the ancient language, there are many verbs for killing someone. To murder, to kill in defense, to kill in by mistake, to kill with vengeance, etc. Our King James version of the bible does not capture the nuances.

Maroni said...

I watch these true crime shows all the time. In case after case, the defendant pleads guilty to avoid the death penalty. If nothing else, the death penalty is a great bargaining chip for prosecutors that has resolved countless murders.