Eye for an eye ... no thanks

I have a hard time reading the archaic points of view surrounding the death penalty.

One local man wants us to bring about a public humiliation style sentencing for minor infractions. There was another lady just the other day who suggested we chop off the arm of someone caught stealing and if they get caught twice, then cut off both of their arms, so they can’t steal again! Are you kidding me?

There are parts of the world that still use these types of barbaric practices for people who steal, vandalize or commit other minor infractions. It's called Saudi Arabia, folks. You can get your arms chopped off for stealing. You can be pushed off a building for being gay. Heck, you can even get buried up to the neck and stoned to death for adultery (mainly just the females, sadly).

We live in a society that treats people with dignity. Where we do not push people to their deaths just for loving someone of the same sex. Where we do not chop off arms because they stole, perhaps to feed their family. Where we do not stone people to death.

I am not for light sentences. Murder, rape should be met with life in prison without parole. But, I do not agree with killing another human being, no matter what they have done.

The sad part is, I bet most of the people writing these letters and sharing their barbaric points of view are seniors. I am in my mid 30s. I thought as we age we become more compassionate, more forgiving and more tolerable. I must be wrong.

If you are so for the death penalty, maybe you should move to Saudi Arabia so you can go watch one of the 149 public executions they carried out last year. Then tell me again how we should bring this to Canada?

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Jesse Nicholson