I have never liked the idea of capital punishment; avoiding it at all costs seemed to me to be the best way to live. That philosophy has kept my head on my shoulders for these many decades.
Then I started to think: if capital punishment must exist, I’ll make a list of those who should face their end at the direction of the state by another’s hand.
The list was headed by Hitler, Mussolini, and Hirohito. As my family grew I quickly added to that list anyone who would murder or rape my wife or children. It didn’t take long until I was sure that only capital punishment could satisfy for even hurting my kids or their mother!
Then a 13 year old boy shot his bus driver in the head when she opened the door to give him a ride to school. Eye for an eye, I thought, and a life for a life! At the victim’s funeral her teary eyed husband forgave the boy and asked for leniency in his punishment. Would that give the family “closure” the press asked.
It got me to thinking. Would I attend the execution of a boy who killed my son? Could that give me closure? Would having two dead boys be somehow better than one?
Certainly dropping a nuclear weapon into some other father’s or mother’s heart could not heal mine. I knew that nothing could fill the crater in my heart where my loved one once dwelt. I enthusiastically answered all the above questions with a resounding “NO”. Perhaps if the guilty one would be sent to a “reform” school, leaned to be a good citizen, be released, and dedicated his life to helping others, I would have closure. And of course he would name the institution he founded after my slain family member.
No, I concluded, capital punishment should be reserved for those who see evil as good, or make good appear evil. Classic example, the supreme court members who decided Roe v. Wade. Other candidates for the “Grand Prize”: judges who claim the Constitutional right to free speech denies students’ right to prayer in school, but sees porn as good for adults; left wingers who proclaim that marijuana is not harmful and push states to allow “smoke on demand” policies making marijuana legal; and probably those who say measles vaccine causes autism and flu shots are harmful.
With that last entry I began to realize capital punishment, even under my watchful eye, and with the “hard” criteria I, myself, established, would soon begin spiraling down the slippery slope. Perhaps, I would soon be looking at the ground waiting for the guillotine’s blade to send me off to oblivion.
In my Christmas post I promised to see Christ in others, and live so as to reflect Christ and His love. Only a few days have gone by and here I am judging and condemning others! My apology some how does not seem adequate!
Have I forgotten Jesse Lewis? Her son was one of twenty some kids killed in the Newtown, Ct. school shooting. She publicly forgave the shooter, “It’s the only way I can survive,” she said. Can I forget the 18 year old man who had a tragic, awful childhood complete with hunger, rape, and homelessness who tole me, “Forgiveness is the foundation of humanity,”? (You can read about them on the links above.)
Christ said “Judge not, least you be judged,” Mathew 7:1, and “Vengeance is mine,” Romans 12:19.
If we are to follow Him, we need to work to make evil be seen as evil, and good seen as good. We can not let our Godless leaders who lack a moral compass lead us in the wrong direction. There must be a better way, and there is. Christ said: “I am the truth, the light and the way,” John 14:6.
Years ago I learned that we should discern right from wrong, judge the good from the evil, discriminate against the bad, associate with, and work with, the good to avoid the evil. Now I must struggle with and learn to forgive others.
If we could all try to be like Mrs. Lewis, the bus driver’s husband, and the homeless young man above, we can change the world. I’m going to give it a try for the new year. Anyone want to join me?
Peace out