Brevik convicted

[Vosem]

This was actually brought up at lunch today, "look at crazy Norway which doesn't have a death penalty." Out of eight people, not including myself, one girl dissented, said it was too lenient but that governments shouldn't have a death penalty. The others said Norway was crazy for not having one. Discussing politics at school is unusual, so I thought I'd bring it up.

[Vosem]

This was actually brought up at lunch today, "look at crazy Norway which doesn't have a death penalty." Out of eight people, not including myself, one girl dissented, said it was too lenient but that governments shouldn't have a death penalty. The others said Norway was crazy for not having one. Discussing politics at school is unusual, so I thought I'd bring it up.

Your school sounds like an awful place.

What's somewhat confusing or just showing of ignorance is that his state also doesn't have the death penalty. So they can disagree with Norway not having it but it's a little odd to be talking about "crazy Norway" for not having it when you live in a state that's the same way.

I've noted many times that although my avatar is Illinois (which, yes, doesn't have the death penalty), I live in Ohio (which does).

[Vosem]

Now will all the bloodthirsty idiots calling for him to be publicly hanged shut up?

I really wish Americans could be more like the Norwegians -- in terms of not responding to tragedies by forming lynch mobs.  Really, it bothers me, the way some people can be so casual about human death and suffering, so long as the person facing death and suffering "deserves it."

I suppose there's no way an anarchist could support the death penalty.

But you don't think somebody who's inflicted vast amounts of death and suffering on other people deserves it himself?

And I don't think he should be hanged publicly, if only because of the opportunity for him to be made into some sort of martyr. Settle it away from the actual eye of the public (though of course it should be publicly announced). I'm really just quibbling though.