Michael Lorrey <retroman@together.net> wrote:
> > Can you give examples of justice that isn't revenge?
>
> While victims families may feel like they have avenged the death of
> their loved one when a murderer is put to death, but as far as I can
> tell, the death penalty serves two functions: a) it is supposed to
serve
> as a deterrent, and b) it permanently removes from society in a manner
> that is far less expensive than life in prison those individuals who
> have proven their in ability or unwillingness to function in society
> with respect for the right to live of others. You may call it
revenge, I
> call it evolution in action.
Any form of justice (imprisonment, death penalty, lynching, shunning,
etc.) has two additional functions:
A) They impose the idea that the "crime" is unjust which, although it
may act as mild deterrent, also leads people to believe that the crime
is "wrong" and "shouldn't happen" which hinders their want to defend
themselves. We have been made to believe that criminal behaviour
isn't meant to happen, the problem is just because we say something
isn't meant to happen it doesn't go away. Our legal system relies
solely on the blind faith of all people in the system - you have to
abide by these laws, and hope that everyone else does the same.
B) They cause more of the behaviour that has been deemed "criminal" in
the first place. Enforcing law creates enough lawlessness to break
the system.
Justice is the need for revenge - when someone commits a crime against
you, what reason do you have to contact the police? The crime has
been committed, and unless the assailant has taken something
irreplaceable you have little or no reason (other than revenge) to do
anything.
==
--Wax
It may be bullshit, but it's inspired bullshit
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