dlbushey
Mar 9th, 2008, 2:10 pm
I'm postiong this here in the Members Only section because I can see where it could have the potential to become a political discussion.
The Marine and Puppy thread has got me thinking. Everyone I know is upset about this incident, some more so than others. But it seems like a lot of folks are downright outraged. For the purposes of discussion, let’s all try to figure this out. I have some questions based on some of the comments I’ve read and heard.
What is a fitting punishment for this Marine? I have heard suggestions ranging from the death penalty to a slap on the wrist. Now, we want to make the punishment fit the crime, So I guess we first have to define the severity of the crime.
Killing an average person. Bad. Capital punishment may be warranted.
Killing a police officer: Really bad. Someone who would do that is a greater risk to the average person. Capital punishment probably warranted.
Killing an animal: Maybe bad, maybe good. Depends on the situation. Someone who would do it just for kicks could be a greater risk to an average person…but they HAVE NOT KILLED a person. Punishment - yes. Capital punishment? I don’t think so.
So where do we draw the line at when we are talking about the sanctity of life? People? Certainly. We all have a strong interest in staying alive. Don’t kill people. I think everyone can agree on that one.
Animals? Well…if there’s a purpose to the death of an animal…like food or clothing, I think most people can agree that would be ok. Except PETA. But that’s a different discussion all together.
Insects? They’re pests. Kill em all. Especially mosquitoes I think most folks will agree on that one.
Bacteria and viruses? Eradicate the ones that make us sick. If someone came up with a drug that killed the HIV virus, I don’t think ANYONE would be upset at its destruction.
But EVERYTHING that I just listed above is alive. If it’s ok to kill one living thing, why is it not ok to kill another? My point is where do we draw the line? Do we join an activist group to save the mosquitoes? I can’t think of one person that would.
But saving the puppies….now there’s a cause! What is the difference? Both mosquitoes and puppies are alive. Both have a purpose in nature. But puppies are cute. That must be the reason.
I’m just confused. All I know is killing people…usually a bad thing. Unless it’s in time of war...and the people in question are your enemy...and they are actual combatants...and haven’t surrendered...and a whole other list of factors that I don’t want to think about. I guess that’s why I was on a ship during the first Gulf War. I just pushed the boat through the water. I let someone else worry about who we killed and under what circumstances it was ok.
So, is throwing a puppy off a cliff bad? Absolutely. It is cruel and unthinkable to anyone with a rational mind. Worthy of Capital Punishment? Not in a hundred years. If being an A$$hole from time to time was a capital crime, there wouldn’t be many of us left.
These are my own opinions. This and $4.50 will get you a Starbucks foo foo coffee. Screw it...I'm going riding.
The Marine and Puppy thread has got me thinking. Everyone I know is upset about this incident, some more so than others. But it seems like a lot of folks are downright outraged. For the purposes of discussion, let’s all try to figure this out. I have some questions based on some of the comments I’ve read and heard.
What is a fitting punishment for this Marine? I have heard suggestions ranging from the death penalty to a slap on the wrist. Now, we want to make the punishment fit the crime, So I guess we first have to define the severity of the crime.
Killing an average person. Bad. Capital punishment may be warranted.
Killing a police officer: Really bad. Someone who would do that is a greater risk to the average person. Capital punishment probably warranted.
Killing an animal: Maybe bad, maybe good. Depends on the situation. Someone who would do it just for kicks could be a greater risk to an average person…but they HAVE NOT KILLED a person. Punishment - yes. Capital punishment? I don’t think so.
So where do we draw the line at when we are talking about the sanctity of life? People? Certainly. We all have a strong interest in staying alive. Don’t kill people. I think everyone can agree on that one.
Animals? Well…if there’s a purpose to the death of an animal…like food or clothing, I think most people can agree that would be ok. Except PETA. But that’s a different discussion all together.
Insects? They’re pests. Kill em all. Especially mosquitoes I think most folks will agree on that one.
Bacteria and viruses? Eradicate the ones that make us sick. If someone came up with a drug that killed the HIV virus, I don’t think ANYONE would be upset at its destruction.
But EVERYTHING that I just listed above is alive. If it’s ok to kill one living thing, why is it not ok to kill another? My point is where do we draw the line? Do we join an activist group to save the mosquitoes? I can’t think of one person that would.
But saving the puppies….now there’s a cause! What is the difference? Both mosquitoes and puppies are alive. Both have a purpose in nature. But puppies are cute. That must be the reason.
I’m just confused. All I know is killing people…usually a bad thing. Unless it’s in time of war...and the people in question are your enemy...and they are actual combatants...and haven’t surrendered...and a whole other list of factors that I don’t want to think about. I guess that’s why I was on a ship during the first Gulf War. I just pushed the boat through the water. I let someone else worry about who we killed and under what circumstances it was ok.
So, is throwing a puppy off a cliff bad? Absolutely. It is cruel and unthinkable to anyone with a rational mind. Worthy of Capital Punishment? Not in a hundred years. If being an A$$hole from time to time was a capital crime, there wouldn’t be many of us left.
These are my own opinions. This and $4.50 will get you a Starbucks foo foo coffee. Screw it...I'm going riding.