Van Nguyen
Ok - i'm going to go out on a limb here. Apparently, a one-minute silence is being proposed for Friday, for Van Nguyen's execution.
Whilst i'm vehmently opposed to the death penalty, particularly in this circumstace, I don't believe it is appropriate, or right to "honour" him with a minutes silence. The one minute silence is traditional reserved to commemerate those who have made great sacrifice, or to recognise the passing of people who have contributed to our history. Nguyen is neither. Remember, Singapore may be imposing a dispropotionate penalty (from our perspective, anyway) but at the end of the day, Nguyen is a drug trafficker, regardless of his motives. Do we really want to hold a minute silence for a drug trafficker? Doesn't this just cheapen the notion of the one-minute silence?
Whatever we think of the penalty, lets not forget the vigour with which we clamoured for the execution of the "Bali Bombers". Although, from our perspective, the crimes don't have parity, we must remember that people percieve the 'wrongness' of something different under different circumstances. More importantly, if we are opposed to the death penalty, then we are opposed to the death penalty regardless of the crime. We can't choose when and where we apply our sensibilities.
I certainly don't support Singapores decision - and that part of their legal system is (from my opinion) reprehensible. Hanging is NOT an acceptable method of execution. Preventing his own mother from a farewell hug is terribly cruel. But lets not get carried away and forget the facts of the matter. He smuggled drugs. Unfortunately, he will pay the highest price.
Whilst i'm vehmently opposed to the death penalty, particularly in this circumstace, I don't believe it is appropriate, or right to "honour" him with a minutes silence. The one minute silence is traditional reserved to commemerate those who have made great sacrifice, or to recognise the passing of people who have contributed to our history. Nguyen is neither. Remember, Singapore may be imposing a dispropotionate penalty (from our perspective, anyway) but at the end of the day, Nguyen is a drug trafficker, regardless of his motives. Do we really want to hold a minute silence for a drug trafficker? Doesn't this just cheapen the notion of the one-minute silence?
Whatever we think of the penalty, lets not forget the vigour with which we clamoured for the execution of the "Bali Bombers". Although, from our perspective, the crimes don't have parity, we must remember that people percieve the 'wrongness' of something different under different circumstances. More importantly, if we are opposed to the death penalty, then we are opposed to the death penalty regardless of the crime. We can't choose when and where we apply our sensibilities.
I certainly don't support Singapores decision - and that part of their legal system is (from my opinion) reprehensible. Hanging is NOT an acceptable method of execution. Preventing his own mother from a farewell hug is terribly cruel. But lets not get carried away and forget the facts of the matter. He smuggled drugs. Unfortunately, he will pay the highest price.
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