"...So ... when will the international community take up the question of the USA and the death penalty????" - fran
Fran, I await some brave country to come over here and impose democracy on us first.... On Jun 25, 12:48 pm, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: > Personally, I abhor it - I think this kind of so-called legal conduct > is dehumanising. > > Of course, I think the same of the death penalty. > > Nonetheless, it is a difficult subject. For many years, as a (still) > convinced western European liberal, I was an uncritical advocate of > the "multi-culti" view of civilised society. Developments in (non-) > assimilation of (generally) moslem groups in the society in which I > live (Germany) have made my views change somewhat on this issue. I see > major basic compatability problems between conservative Islam and the > values of secular western society, and consequently feel our societies > have a right to expect a willingness from immigrants to accept and > adhere to our basic values. If they are not prepared to do so, then > they should strongly consider going somewhere else. But this refers to > the society in which I live. > > With regard to other societies, it's more difficult. The so-called > developed west has many major blemishes in the area of cultural > imperialism. The example of the "white man's burden" in the 19th. > Century comes to mind, as does the fact that, in the spread of the > British Empire in Africa, the missionaries (like Livingstone) who went > to campaign against slavery were the vanguard of expropriation, > dispossession and oppression - as well as health, hygene and > education. This can make comments from western countries in post- > colonial areas problematic. > > At the very least, I would expect that civilised societies avail of > their right to honestly express their genuine distaste for the way > other countries do things. But then, of course, there's also the > possibility that doing this will make the others react in an even more > negative way [Obama's dilemma about commenting forcefully on Iran is a > good example]. > > Application of interpretations of the Sharia which prescribe this sort > of punishment are barbaric - so are other officially tolerated > practices such as female genital mutilation - often attemptedly > softened by the circumlocution, "circumcision". I think this is one > area where an increase in dialogue leading to more internationally > binding consensus (international agreements, binding UN resolutions) > may be the only practical, long-term, imperfect, frustrating way > forward. With no veto rights. Countries not signing such accords > could then be internationally regarded as pariahs. > > So ... when will the international community take up the question of > the USA and the death penalty???? > > Francis > > On 25 Jun., 20:45, ornamentalmind <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > As religious tolerance continues, what are we to think about this? > > What are we to do about this? > > What do you think?http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8118306.stm- Hide > > quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
