Post by PeaceIsTheWay on Apr 23, 2005 5:58:35 GMT -5
I suppose that all of us, before we actually began a penpal relationship with a DR prisoner, considered on some level at least whether it mattered to us or not if the person was guilty or innocent.
For me, the realization came quickly. We are all the same in our hearts of hearts, we want to be happy and we want love. We all make choices which are not always in our best interests and we can only make choices among things that our experience teaches us. Whether someone has taken what seems to be the ultimate action, that is murder, or not does not make their desires for happiness and love any less real.
A small segment of our society has defined which murderers will go to DR and hence deserve only our contempt, Many follow that thinking because of their own fear. Yet the same people make heros out of those who murder while wearing a military uniform.
There is no one who deserves our contempt and as we judge others is exactly the way we judge ourselves. Nothing can be gained by this but more pain and bloodshed.
Killing people to show them that killing is wrong just makes no sense. Compassion is the only thing that can help. Giving help to those who need it when they ask is more effective than heaping contempt on people once they have taken drastic action.
Having said this, I should say that I live in Canada where we no longer have a death penalty but we are all citizens of the world. Compassion knows no borders. I have a DR penpal in Florida and one in Texas.
We can only create a gentler kinder world for society, for our children through kindness, love and compassion rather than trying to force it with more killing.
I salute all of you who give a portion of your life and caring to people who crave love and acceptance which is generally not given by the rest of society. You get what you give and you will receive many blessings.
Love and Joy....PITW
The good that we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.
For me, the realization came quickly. We are all the same in our hearts of hearts, we want to be happy and we want love. We all make choices which are not always in our best interests and we can only make choices among things that our experience teaches us. Whether someone has taken what seems to be the ultimate action, that is murder, or not does not make their desires for happiness and love any less real.
A small segment of our society has defined which murderers will go to DR and hence deserve only our contempt, Many follow that thinking because of their own fear. Yet the same people make heros out of those who murder while wearing a military uniform.
There is no one who deserves our contempt and as we judge others is exactly the way we judge ourselves. Nothing can be gained by this but more pain and bloodshed.
Killing people to show them that killing is wrong just makes no sense. Compassion is the only thing that can help. Giving help to those who need it when they ask is more effective than heaping contempt on people once they have taken drastic action.
Having said this, I should say that I live in Canada where we no longer have a death penalty but we are all citizens of the world. Compassion knows no borders. I have a DR penpal in Florida and one in Texas.
We can only create a gentler kinder world for society, for our children through kindness, love and compassion rather than trying to force it with more killing.
I salute all of you who give a portion of your life and caring to people who crave love and acceptance which is generally not given by the rest of society. You get what you give and you will receive many blessings.
Love and Joy....PITW
The good that we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life.