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Show Your Opinion MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005 Death penalty just consequence, but Marry into money or expectations? dangerously riddled with fallacy low Both have their lazy advantages The death penalty in America is in desperate need of reform to insure the innocent are never put to death Ikwo Ibiam Opinion Writer Among the plethora of controversial topics, the death penalty conflict has proven its longevity. How is it that after centuries of operation, capital punishment is still able to divide the opinion of the masses like a hot knife through butter? In order to get at the heart of this issue, one must explore the intangible essence that perpetuates this heated debate - the value of human life. The most heinous crime that can be committed by one human being against another is murder. This fact in and of itself creates an inescapable paradox. In order for justice to be served, should the law require the life of the individual that is guilty of the ultimate crime? The answer since the beginning of time has been a resounding "yes." Proponents of capital punishment believe that punishment for an offense needs to be in proportion to the crime committed. Capital punishment is an irrevocable penalty for an irreparable offence. Another argument states that the death penalty not only serves justice, but that it is also a deterrent for would-be murderers. Fear of this punishment is the variable in this delicate equation that protects society. In Medieval Europe, the heads of the crime for which they were convicted. DNA tests have vindicated the innocence of dozens of convicts since that technology has been made available. The argument for anti-death penalty proponents is that life imprisonment without parole adequately punishes all who aie convicted of murder and leaves room for the sentence to be revoked if necessary - if the individual imprisoned is eventually found innocent. The criminal justice system was instituted to make sure that each _ person brought to trial is innocent until proven guilty. Those opposed to capital Another criticism of the death penalty is that it can be punishment believe that life a sword wielded by a racist or apathetic jury. A variable is too sacred to put anyone within the death penalty deto death, even though that bate is the color of the skin of the victim, and that of the person may be Adolph Hitler defendant. himself. There are valid points on both sides of the debate. I believe the death penalty should be imposed upon individuals that ment. Those opposed to capital punish- are unmistakably guilty of murder. But at our present status, there are ment believe that life is too sacred just too many flaws that erode the to put anyone to death, even though that person may be Adolph Hitler credibility of the current system. New statistics need to be generated himself. Aside from this, the fact is that and used to continuously address some convicts may very well be glaring flaws in the system. Just as innocent, but found guilty due to the process was changed with DNA unavoidable mistakes of human testing, other new technological aderror. These unfortunate people vancements may help us improve slip through the ugly cracks of the the system. The process needs to be criminal justice system and are in reformed. a sense "murdered," innocent of decapitated heretics, traitors, and criminals were mounted upon walls and bridges as a constant reminder for the populace. The execution of others with the guillotine was made a public spectacle designed to reinforce the psychological subjegation of the people to the laws of the land. While we may look upon such public occurrences with horror and disgust today, the governing principle is consistent. Most people who hear about or witness an execution would never do anything to allow themselves to be put in that predica- Kougar Korner "If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life Never make a pretty woman your wife So for my personal point of view Get an ugly girl to marry you" -Jimmy Soul Robert William Nelsen Opinion Writer Living in "Happy Valley" one cannot help but think of dating and marriage. The pressures to date and get married are all around us like mosquitoes on an otherwise nice summer night. Of course one must contemplate what is important: money, looks, love, or even cooking ability. Growing up in my neighborhood I was constantly told to marry for money. There is a phrase I have heard throughout my life from my father and many others. "Remember marry rich, you can always learn to love." Famous last words. My father developed that theory only after he married for love and not money. Like many college students I have begun to question my father's loving advice. I know he has good intentions; he wants me to have many things he couldn't. I've been given advice such as money may not buy happiness but it will eliminate all those things that make you unhappy. There are a lot of reasons to marry into a rich family; your wedding gifts will be better and nicer, her family will pay for the wedding, and if you are ever desperate for money they will have the means to help. If you are lucky enough her family may even be rich enough so that you won't have to work anymore. After a lot of thought and consideration, I think I want to find a poor girl. While rich girls have their advantages, poor girls are best. Not just poor, dirt poor, borderline homeless. Rich girls have always had Daddy to provide, and unfortunately Daddy has a lot more money than a poor starving college student. On the other hand if I married a poor girl I could keep her happy without having to rob a bank or sell drugs. She would be happy with just a roof over her head and a delicious meal of spit and bread. While most newly married-husbands are worried about how to afford new expenses like car maintenance, I will be focusing on how to fit our kids on the tandem bicycle. Sorry Dad, but this time I am rebelling, I'm going to find me a poor girl. A weekly skewering of our sister-college to the south Richie Wilcox Your Campus Editor Despite the image of a righteous and law-abiding student populace, BYU has a dark secret; a thriving criminal underground. Few have been able to penetrate this wanton exhibition of lawlessness. The College Times, however, recently gained access to the crime records of the BYU Police Department, and here's what we found. As a caution to the reader, the following reports may be disturbing for some. All sentences in italics come directly from the BYU Police Crime Report. A terrorist cell at BYU? "A dry ice bomb exploded March 31 in th e Hela/nan Halls around 1:30 a.m." We all know dry ice bombs are a gateway bomb. These misguided students are on the path to buying Soviet-Era nuclear warheads from a renegade Ukrainian. Romeo wannabe breaks window. "A female student reported that something struck her window at Chipman Hall in Helaman Halls April 1. When she went and looked outside her window she saw a male running from the area. The window had to be replaced." Here's what really happened. An overzealous courier, having watched Romeo and Juliet the night before and wanting to sing his favorite Peter Breinholt love ballad to the object of his affection, underestimated the force of his throw and/or the strength of the window. After following up on the story, the College Times has learned that the young man took the safer approach and took his love interest tunnel singing the following weekend. Stolen Schwinn. "A $200 Schwinn Mesa model bicycle was stolen from the bike rack next to the Fletcher Building last week. The 24-year-old male student reported he had locked it with a cable lock." What was this student thinking?! Leaving a bike unattended next to the Fletcher Building, and with only a cable lock? We all know that's the roughest part of campus. He might as well leave his car unattended, unlocked, and running in South Side Chicago with a sign that says, "Please steal me." After reading these disturbing accounts, I hope we will all be a little more careful while on BYU's campus. Always use the buddy system, and heaven's sake, stay away from the Fletcher building. |