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dead man walking

Capital punishment, yes or no?

 

are there crimes where punishment by death is justifiable?

who has the right to make a decision on taking the life of a human being?

 

do criminals have the right to live?

these are hard questions to answer.
COMMENTS
Noe said at 12:10 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
No one have the right to make that decision... Dramatic photos, great work Woody.
Mariusblack said at 12:33 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
provocative thoughts, woody. and equally provocative shots!!!
Sirnicolay said at 12:46 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Dramatic! I love your shots! :)
Lifequest22 said at 12:57 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Woody, thought provoking, and will this stimulate conversation on this topic? Not something i can answer simply. I would need to think and compose carefully. Your photos are chilling.
Andre. said at 3:25 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Nice concept. There is always someone who has the right to make a decision. Even if there is no "right"
Wildthing said at 3:47 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Wow. That's contraversial with a capital C. We all have our own thoughts, based on our upbringing, religion, & personal experience. I worked in the Prison Service here in the UK for twenty-three years, and met many murderers, serial rapists, and monsters that have little in common with human beings, other than their appearance. What do you do with the really evil ones: those who are not legally insane, have no empathy for others, and simply enjoy inflicting pain, suffering, & taking life for their own pleasure? If a person has no remorse for stealing life & robbing loved ones of a father, mother, sister, brother, or child, then he/she has, in my humble opinion, lost any & all rights, including the right to live.....Send them on their way, and let God pass final judgement, should you believe in His/Her existence.
Hhwind said at 5:51 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Chilling shots, we have no right to take away a person's life neither does "he" a very tough question
Leftofcenter said at 5:54 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
eerie images Woody. The message comes across loud and clear. I hear you, Mike, some crimes are just too hainous..
Wildthing said at 8:13 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
We have EVERY right to safeguard ourselves against predatory individuals that feed off fear and death. Everyone SHOULD have the RIGHT to walk free on city streets & feel safe.
Violent crime is on the increase. Do you know how many serial killers are active in just the US? Look it up. You've got to fight fire with fire, and the only way is to use deterrents that work.
The meek do not inherit the earth or anything else: they are potential prey to individuals who take whatever they want, whenever they want it. Many rapists & killers are released, and too many of them re-offend. And the death penalty IS a deterrent. A dead killer never kills again. You & everyone else are safe from what he may have done to you. It's well past the time to take off the kid gloves & put society back on the right track. Actions really do speak louder than words.
Cutthroatannabellee said at 8:20 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
wow. great
Charlespop said at 9:29 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Really powerful , thought provoking tabblo ! Love a tabblo that starts a debate !
Pkeener said at 9:37 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Woody, First: These photographs are incredible. I would love to have the back story on these. Your use of light and shadow, soft focus and sharp, it's mind blowing. the composition is as dramatic as the photos.
Second: thank you for the thought provoking tabblo. you really speak to my sensibilities. But, believe it or not, I cannot express my feelings on this subject in my comments here.
Ira said at 11:34 a.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Very difficult question. Hardly it to answer. And I can never solve the problem on another's life. Very terribly. Also it is very a pity of the people.
Setu said at 12:02 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Punishment is must considering the nature of Crime. But death is not always the solution ! I believe in "Law of Karma", perhaps I know where to find the answers !
Debdog said at 12:11 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
wow woody,,,,striking , powerful shots....hard to say...bothers me that some inmates have been released YEARS later with new evidence, DNA etc...i reslly don't know. My emotions say yes when I see a total sociopath with NO regard for life.EVIL..just recently where i live, a still unfound serial killer on the loose, robbed a mother with her young child...8 or 9 I think...bound, gagged, blindfolded..then shot AT THE MALL ....he had no reason to kill them.I wonder why he should live.
EMA said at 2:38 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Great and powerful tabblo. Your questions are difficult to answer. Sometimes I say "Yes", other times I say "No". It depends on the crime and the anger it provokes in me. But I agree with Mike and Debra. Some killers are no longer human.
AliDar said at 7:54 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
My Gawd. Very powerful photos Woody, they give me cold shivers. I'm very opinionated on this subject; I don't think anyone has the right to take another's life from them. If you punish a murderer by murdering him or her, what makes you any better than they are? ... The thing is though, I'd be the first one to say kill the bast*rd if someone was responsible for the death of someone I loved... It's never black and white, is it? And it shouldn't be.
SterlingGray said at 9:00 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Woody, incredible shots, very thought provoking and very dramatic!!! As to the death penalty, I echo Mike's comments ten fold. As a former prosecutor, I have argued for the death penalty on behalf of children and other individuals who were raped, mutilated, and murdered. As a former prosecutor, I can say that there is evil out there (having seen it first hand) and that death is probably not nearly enough punishment - way too quick compared to the suffering they put their victims through.
Photosfornow said at 9:38 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Hi Woody, Yes I too, would like to have the back story on these photos, like did you set up the shoots and stage them? Where did you do the shots at? As to begin to answer your question on the taking of a life…Yes, I would defend my family and myself to the death if need be but, having been a situation of almost near death myself and having to look into the abyss of darkness it is not something I would wish upon anyone. Talk is very easy till you are faced with the situation of taking another life, thou shell not kill another person still rings true with me. Life in person is a far worse sentence than the taking of a life.
Siagian said at 9:45 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
i want to thank everybody who posted their thoughts here, for me this is an issue where i can see both sides of the argument but still have not quite been able to come to a place where i would be comfortable choosing a side. i was a little apprehensive about making this tabblo because of the obvious controversy that it might stir up, but in the end i am glad i did because as i read your comments, i feel that i may finally come to a place where i might be able to make a stand for one or the other.
Siagian said at 10:15 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Mike and Sterling: i value your perspectives because you have walked the walk, you have both been part of the criminal justice system, one of you before the sentencing the other after. whenever i read about crimes against the helpless, the defenseless, and the innocent- especially crimes against children or the elderly, it stirs within me a kind of anger that im still trying to understand. and when the crimes involve rape, abuse, and torture, i feel like i want to pull the switch myself!

on the other hand capital punishment is seen by many as 1) an anachronistic form of retribution, 2) irreversible in the case where there is a serious miscarriage of justice, and also 3) not proven to be an effective deterrent against capital crimes.

i have one foot each on the other boat and i fear i may end up soaking wet.
Siagian said at 10:18 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Andre: that is deep...
Siagian said at 10:20 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Linda, Ira, Edite: i am undecided like you.
Siagian said at 10:21 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Setu: tell us the answer!!!
Siagian said at 10:25 p.m. on Apr 23, 2008:
Pam, Dar, Debbie: I sense that this issue has been something that you also have struggled with and may have already come to the conclusion. if you can, could you show me the path?
Wildthing said at 4:56 a.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Bottom line. If a sociopath brutally slayed someone you loved, would you be happy to think of him in prison, laughing, joking, watching TV, playing pool, maybe taking a degree, dealing/using drugs, & adding to YOUR tax burden. The ultimate crime deserves the ultimate penalty. What we must know, is that the person in question is absolutely, beyond all doubt, guilty of the crime. That's it...I'm outta here.
Welshchick said at 5:18 a.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Wow...I have literally been here for at least 15 minutes struggling with my thoughts...I start to write something and then I think "what if? I will sleep on this one...
Pkeener said at 11:29 a.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Woody. I am a LIBRA. Its hard for me to make a decision. the scales are constantly swinging. Emotionally, an eye for an eye. Intellectually? I just don't know. WHat about the huge possibility of sentencing an innocent man to death?
Setu said at 3:52 p.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Woody, Please read this article on this subject completely, and I'm sure you'll find your answer !
Here's the link to the page...

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2006/10-12/58-63_punishment.shtml

The words I agree to: " in no way do we have a right to take the life of a convict, whatsoever the situation may be. It is more appropriate to keep such a crime-maker permanently behind the bars, but in a strict and consistent way.........our duty is not to cut his life short, thereby stopping his progress, but to improve him. This is an act of a very high wisdom, which clearly states that capital punishment has to vanish.......In lifelong imprisonment are the chances for a true improvement and betterment, which adds much to our great and timeless culture........We have to change the viewpoint of the person. If we are successful, the person will change. Reformation, not capital punishment, is the way out. Our scriptures have always laid a lot of emphasis on nonviolence. Somebody who has turned to violence due to his personal circumstances in life can be transformed, made a nonviolent and reformed human being........All major religions advocate reform, repentance and forgiveness......."
Setu said at 3:58 p.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
Oops ! the link got lost in words:

http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2006/10-12/58-63_punishment.shtml
Debdog said at 11:12 p.m. on Apr 24, 2008:
well Woody, I still am not sure, and Sterling has dealt more with it than me..but as a former ER nurse, I had to care for EVERYBODY including the nasty abusive ones brought by the cops, cuffed to the bed...a look in some of those eyes was chilling...you could see NO SOUL living in the body...one guy was caught with a big RAMBO hunting knife, blocks from or ER , where he intended to come in and finis off his "loved one" he nearly killed...NO DOUBT he would have killed US in the room to get to her, BUT>>>>>>>I am still unsure.
Tunderke said at 8:25 a.m. on Apr 25, 2008:
Scary, I try to not think of it until i have to....
Wlk68 said at 11:23 a.m. on Apr 25, 2008:
Very intense images. Very thought provoking. Nice job, Woody.
Sativa said at 11:29 a.m. on Apr 25, 2008:
Very great and interesting tabblo, Woody....!!!
I say NO to death penalty !
Bxrgirl27 said at 11:48 a.m. on Apr 26, 2008:
Wow - heavy stuff here Woody!
ElZorroTOX said at 9:15 p.m. on Apr 26, 2008:
Great pics, great idea for a Tabblo. You certainly did not shy away from starting a controversial topic.
Welshchick said at 6:01 a.m. on Apr 27, 2008:
Deb reminded me of a story in our Portland Newspaper about an ER nurse who returned home after work and was attacked by a man with a hammer - he had been hiding in her house - waiting for her!...well, she was used to crises and she fought back and got a choke hold on him and held on until he passed out...then she ran frantically to the neighbors for help and when the police arrived...well, um...she had really strong hands ...the guy had expired... MY POINT? The man had a history and he was going to do more attacks until stopped...and she stopped him!! Thanks Woody
Welshchick said at 6:04 a.m. on Apr 27, 2008:
No, on Capital Punishment Yes, for life inprisionment and rehab...
Fukatsus said at 8:15 a.m. on Apr 27, 2008:
this tabblo makes me think something. great!
Siagian said at 10:18 a.m. on May 2, 2008:
SETU: thank you for the link. it is a real eye-opener!! there may be some things which i may not agree with, but it makes a host of excellent points in the argument. i highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking deeply about this issue.
Mirella said at 5:05 p.m. on May 2, 2008:
To big subject for my little english. At first sight I say NO to capital punishment, but...Thanks for letting us think of it.
Suhud said at 1:01 p.m. on May 4, 2008:
wow!
simple but sure, we are about the intersection to answer that hard question. for some reason, me myself will say yes, agree. but for some other reason, i disagree.

great job, pal. :)
Roadglide said at 7:39 a.m. on May 31, 2008:
Kill a murderer a murderer will never murder again FACT.
AliDar said at 11:19 p.m. on Jun 3, 2008:
Yes these are hard questions to answer Woody, and something like this shouldn't be so easy or straight forward.
Chaitiamma said at 10:29 a.m. on Nov 3, 2008:
Agree whole heartedly with Roadglide !
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