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fandomhigh2012-01-31 09:53 am
ofthe-wilds.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2012-01-31 09:53 am
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Polar Opposites, Tuesday
"All right, we've been practicing a bit these past few weeks," Alistair announced, "But now it's time to bring in the serious topics. Now, none of you are allowed to throttle anyone else about your opinion, even if you might be tempted..." Morrigan.
Morrigan didn't throttle! ...but the spell for frogging anyone who got physical or rude about the debate was waiting on the tip of her tongue.
"Capital Punishment," she said instead. "Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for a crime. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. Execution of criminals and political opponents has been used by nearly all societies—both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. In most places that practise capital punishment it is reserved for murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. In some countries sexual crimes, such as rape, adultery, incest and sodomy, carry the death penalty, as do religious crimes such as apostasy."
Looking at you, Alistair.
Alistair looked back at her. He was still ticked off about that whole being a woman thing, all right? "I don't think it should be a penalty for apostasy," he said. Mildly. "I'm not denying that there are crimes where the death penalty is the only one that could and should be applied - treason, for one. But I've been told that there are people here who think differently about that. And I'm sure we can all have a reasonable debate about it without anyone getting hurt or being turned into anything."
Morrigan just smiled.
It probably wasn't very reassuring, the way it showed all her teeth.
[OOC: OCD is up, FYI, today's class is debating the death penalty.]
Morrigan didn't throttle! ...but the spell for frogging anyone who got physical or rude about the debate was waiting on the tip of her tongue.
"Capital Punishment," she said instead. "Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for a crime. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. Execution of criminals and political opponents has been used by nearly all societies—both to punish crime and to suppress political dissent. In most places that practise capital punishment it is reserved for murder, espionage, treason, or as part of military justice. In some countries sexual crimes, such as rape, adultery, incest and sodomy, carry the death penalty, as do religious crimes such as apostasy."
Looking at you, Alistair.
Alistair looked back at her. He was still ticked off about that whole being a woman thing, all right? "I don't think it should be a penalty for apostasy," he said. Mildly. "I'm not denying that there are crimes where the death penalty is the only one that could and should be applied - treason, for one. But I've been told that there are people here who think differently about that. And I'm sure we can all have a reasonable debate about it without anyone getting hurt or being turned into anything."
Morrigan just smiled.
It probably wasn't very reassuring, the way it showed all her teeth.
[OOC: OCD is up, FYI, today's class is debating the death penalty.]
Re: Debate: Capital Punishment (Against)
"Do you kill a cat for being a cat? Or a wolf for being a wolf? If so, then more shame upon thee, but all creatures kill, turn on each other, and all creatures steal, humans included. I, myself, have killed humans, but always in self-defense. Does that make me worthy of the pyre? Shall we kill those who kill animals, too? For I assure you, they too feel pain, and fear, and love. Once you draw that line, where do you stop drawing it? And who is it, exactly, that decides what is worthy of the axe?"
"More importantly, for those of you with the moral inclination, There is the proven risk of executing innocent people. For many, the avoidable killing of an innocent person can never be justified, in any circumstances."