Double Trouble

I am living a double life. How you may be wondering? Well, let me put it like this to you. In English class, I’m reading a book Just Mercy about a lawyer who fights for people on death row. On the other hand sociology, I have to debate on the “for side” of death row. How do I feel about this you may be wondering? Well, let me put it like this. I feel like I’m in a pickle. 

There is a lot of controversy regarding death row. Now, I don’t have a particular opinion on death row, but I sure do know a lot about the for or against sides. Since I am participating in a debate on why capital punishment is a good thing, I’d like to use this blog to discuss the issue of death row using the McMillian case from the novel.

Bryan Stevenson has dedicated his life to fighting for innocent people on death row who are wrongfully convicted and attempts to get justice by getting them off death row. McMillian is an example of someone who should not be on death row since he was framed for a crime he did not commit. This lack of trust from the higher powers shows how death row can be unnecessary as innocent people can die, simply because a police officer was biased towards a white man with a claim. In McMillian’s case, the sheriff involved, Tate, claimed he was “too far in the arrest” to change the sentence of McMillian's after seeing evidence of how McMillian was not involved in the crime. Tate refusing to change the sentencing of McMillian shows the laziness and lack of seriousness put into the case, and how this is definitely not the first time that the justice system has done this. The legal incompetence that was brought to light by the case as McMillian had an attorney who barely understood the case making him unprepared and did not argue for McMillian, shows that this can be the case for many other people on death row. Death row can be useful as it gives people the sense of security and reassurance they need that a person who has been convicted of a serious crime will not be a concern to them. However, a disadvantage of killing someone to make victims and bystanders feel safer is that the wrong person can be executed.

I appreciate that I can use this blog to elaborate on the cons of capital punishment using just mercy. Although I think death row has the positive of permanently getting rid of people who commit horrible crimes, the system that put them there is unjust and that makes who is on death row controversial.



Comments

  1. Isabella DossDecember 15, 2024 at 11:43 AM

    Hi Tara! You do such a good job of highlighting the complexity of the nature of the death penalty. Unfortunately, like McMillian, the justice system has failed many innocent people. I agree that whole capital punishment can provide security, the chance of wrongfully convicting someone is very dangerous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kate BDecember 15, 2024 at 1:56 PM

    Hi Tara! I loved your post and how you talked about both opinions on the death row. Especially knowing as much information as you do it must be hard to create a definite answer for whether the death penalty should be banned or not. I also loved that you said you were in a pickle! Nice job!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God Save Us From the Acorn!

Image
Collegeboard is the TJ Eckleburg to today’s high school students. TJ Eckleburg is the mystery man that the people in the Valley of Ashes look up to (literally), similar to high school students looking up to Collegeboard. Although TJ Eckleburg is an oculist, he has eternal blindness to the poor. This is similar to how Collegeboard has eternal blindness to students' complaints about the application process and the skyrocketing prices. Students try to become something in life and they need the help of Collegeboard. However, nothing has been done over the years to support these needy students—the same way the poor in the Valley of Ashes will never get their eyes checked. Regardless of one’s financial status, it’s hard to get the help needed. Especially in the confusing winds of Collegeboard’s website, similar to the winds of the Valley of Ashes. No matter how many SATs high school students take or the begging of the people from the Valley of Ashes, the big guys will not care. But of co...
Read more

Target’s Target

Image
Target has a huge support system. Why? Because Target is a huge support system. When taking a brief stroll in a Target store, you are faced with it all. Advertisements with disabled people, sections with pride clothing, and they include all races. Companies can be inclusive for different reasons. Some choose to be inclusive because they have genuine support, and others are inclusive for popularity. In my opinion, Target wholeheartedly cares about their customers. Target includes every group of people possible, so even if this includes outcast groups, they are still making a difference by giving them representation. This representation makes the people who are uncommonly advertised feel seen. Even when they lose sales, they still have not stopped being inclusive towards certain groups, which shows their genuine support. Stores like Target are including these groups to normalize their existence in the public eye. This shows that they are not just doing it. To get more customers they’...
Read more

Who Is That.

Image
The satirical article “Justin Bieber Forgets his Wife's Name” uses exaggeration, irony, and word choice to highlight how idolized celebrities, who are seen as role models, do not experience deep, meaningful love typically seen online. The writer begins the story creating a sense of urgency, like a life or death situation, but is quickly dulled down with Bieber’s lack of intense fear. To treat the situation in a minimalistic manner, he turns to the reporters as his peers when he realizes the slight significance of forgetting his wife's name. Bieber avoids the accountability and superficiality of his relationship, as he repeats “babe” and hopes the name comes to mind eventually. However, this plan backfires when he realizes she is starting to “catch on”, adding comedic tension because the situation is less humorous, but his obliviousness is starting to backfire and could lead to consequences. The surprises did not end there; even after six years' worth of devotion to this wom...
Read more