http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rodney-l-taylor-phd/cheers-or-tears-texas-or-_b_1002603.html
This article focuses on the long-helf debate of capital punishment. What brought Professor Rodney Taylor to write about this topic was a 2012 Republican campaign. There was a moment in the Republican debates that Governor Perry of Texas was asked about the number of executions carried out in the state of Texas, a number far surpassing all other states, and in particular the number of executions carried out during his tenure as governor, a number far exceeding any previous governor. Before the Governor was able to respond, the audience broke out into applause and shouts of support. The audience response seemed to demonstrate not only the acceptance of, but celebration of, a system of state-condoned execution. After the applause, Governor Perry's response suggested that in Texas there is a law and people know that if they violate that law they may have to pay the ultimate penalty of execution.
For the audience to burst out in applause and shouts of approval over the issue of taking someone's life seems ethically problematic at best. The Professor then referenced a prominent confucian follower who stated that, "If someone has committed a serious crime, then the person should be executed for the crime. The problem is that when you have to execute the person, you would do so while you were at the same time crying, crying and continuing to believe in the basic goodness of human nature." This suggests that there is a penalty for hanous crimes, but it is a very sad picture of society. Crying at the occurrence of such punishment is a far cry indeed from the celebratory response witnessed in front of a national audience.
So why would the Governor or Texas condone such behavior by the audience? Aren't politicians, let alone Governors, supposed to remain ethically conscious and concerned with society's values and morals? Leaders who serve are altruistic: They place their followers' welfare foremost in their plans. Keeping Texas "safe" by having such a harsh captial punishment legal system in place may be looking out for Texans, but there is a difference in being Just and being Barbarous.
Do you think that Governor Perry should be looked up to for holding the highest number of executions under his tenure as Governor? Do you believe the audience's response was ethically and morally wrong?
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ReplyDeleteI do not think that Governor Perry should be looked up to for holding the highest number of executions either. I also agree that execution should only be used for those who commit a heinous crime. Although it is hard to say how it is growing up and living in Texas, I can't imagine that the crime rates there are that much worse than any other state. Other states to result in execution for most of their crimes, so why is Texas? Unfortunately, because the citizens of Texas know the laws there, I do not think that they feel that these execution rates are unethical. Because they react differently to the high execution rates doesn't make them immoral either, because, again, I do not think they see a morality issue here. Unethical and immoral behaviors, I see, are ones that are being committed consciously, when they know the acts are wrong. I'm sure that these Texas citizens do not understand some of the practices and procedures we have in Illinois either, but we do not see ourselves as unethical and immoral. This does not mean that I believe these acts aren't barbaric and immoral. But just because their acts and procedures are different in Texas, does that mean that they are necessarily unjust or unethical?
ReplyDeleteDanielle Huff
I do not think that Governor Perry should be looked up for holding the highest number of executions but at the same time I don't live in Texas so I don't know what exactly is going on. If people are celebrating that he has the highest execution then he must be doing something right even if other people that don't live in his state disagree. Understanding how people live their lives down there would let me have a better opinion about the amount of people executed under Governor Perry. I disagree with executing people if its not just but the people who are being executed must have done something very bad.
ReplyDeleteI think the audience's response was unethical and it made them look bad but they all agree with what Governor Perry is doing. If you agree with something and believe in it then you are going to celebrate it and show that you care. When I read about this I couldn't help but thinking about the Complexity Theory. Their leader Governor Perry is enabling all of his followers to get together and become one big group. If this one big group all agree with the death penalty and how it is being used then it could easily spread to other that are near by. I could also see Texas not changing their laws about the death penalty because of all of the followers. All of these followers come together and make theses actions acceptable in Texas. Being a big group gives them a lot of power.
-Daniel Itami
I agree with both Danielle and Daniel. I most certainly do not think that Perry should be looked up for holding the highest number of executions. I'm not familiar with a lot of the Texan laws, but I do not think it is right to have these public executions. Obviously one has to perform a heinous act to be executed, but what is a clear defined crime that deserves something of this nature?
ReplyDeleteI personally think the responses from the crowd were morally and ethically wrong. Living in Illinois and being a native here I guess I just do not understand this form of punishment. The coercive actions that are being taken here are beyond belief. I feel that there are a lot more ways to punish acts of crime effectively. As I stated earlier, I am not from Texas so I guess I cannot really judge or relate to the way the crowd is responding to these executions, but I do not think it is right.
-Zach Spoor
Team 1