In a deterministic world, fate is determined. However, due to the sheer number of atoms in the universe 10^85 est. the future is unpredictable without knowing absolutely everything about the universe. It does not hold that, a person who has committed a murder, will commit murder in the future. That is a choice that he/she will make at the time, a choice that is determined by physical laws, but is unpredictable, even to the one making it. One can hypothesize about the choice one would make, but cannot know it until it has occurred. It appears as though the choices we make are free, simply because we don't know everything about our physiology. It's difficult enough to recognize that emotional states affect our perception and decisions. It's even harder to stop it from affecting our choices. The realization of the affect of emotion on decision making, may have been instructed or may have arisen from introspection, either way, it comes about by chance, as does everything else.
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
is this thread still about the lethal injection boycott????? just checking.
i am on the fence about the death penalty. on one hand, i think that a convicted murderer doesn't deserve to live out his/her life at society's expense, but on the other, i think that governments who murder can't really call themselves free. it's a pretty complicated issue with alot of gray areas.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama."
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/7
i'd like to add, however, that i never heard of a cause that amnesty int'l was behind that didn't seem right and just. for me, they are one of verrrry few reliable moral compasses in the world.
Sodium Pentathol is a barbituate that causes an anesthetic effect. In other words, it puts the recipient to sleep. It is commonly used in various types of surgery. There is no pain felt because the person is unconscious.
When this "cocktail" is used in lethal injections, SP is given first to anesthetize the person. Then the remaing drugs that eventually stop the heart are given.
The only trauma the criminal experiences is that of knowing their life is about to end. Mental anguish yes, physical pain no.
Not quite true. According to Amnesty International:
Doctors have expressed concern that, if inadequate levels of sodium thiopental are administered, the anaesthetic effect can wear off before the prisoner’s heart stops. This places them at risk of excruciating pain as the chemicals enter the veins, producing cardiac arrest. Due to the paralysis induced by the pancuronium bromide, they would be unable to communicate their distress.
For these reasons, the chemicals are not used by veterinary surgeons for euthanasia on animals. In Texas, the biggest user of lethal injection in the USA, the same drugs used on humans are prohibited on cats and dogs because of the potential dangers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Barack Obama."
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/7
Comments
i am on the fence about the death penalty. on one hand, i think that a convicted murderer doesn't deserve to live out his/her life at society's expense, but on the other, i think that governments who murder can't really call themselves free. it's a pretty complicated issue with alot of gray areas.
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/7
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-041007-feature-eng
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/7
Not quite true. According to Amnesty International:
Doctors have expressed concern that, if inadequate levels of sodium thiopental are administered, the anaesthetic effect can wear off before the prisoner’s heart stops. This places them at risk of excruciating pain as the chemicals enter the veins, producing cardiac arrest. Due to the paralysis induced by the pancuronium bromide, they would be unable to communicate their distress.
For these reasons, the chemicals are not used by veterinary surgeons for euthanasia on animals. In Texas, the biggest user of lethal injection in the USA, the same drugs used on humans are prohibited on cats and dogs because of the potential dangers.
"Obama's main opponent in this election on November 4th (was) not John McCain, it (was) ignorance."~Michael Moore
"i'm feeling kinda righteous right now. with my badass motherfuckin' ukulele!"
~ed, 8/7
You're welcome!