I posted this amazing article yesterday, but copied and pasted it instead of putting a link... So here is a link..
https://justiceandretribution.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/per-juror-17/
It is one of the most well written articles that I have read so far other than Katiecoolady's letter to the jurors.
This article is titled "Per-Juror #17". It is a MUST read!
The writer is coming from the point of view that many of us are, and she so beautifully articulates what we have been feeling... Especially these points about justice!
"It's ironic that perjuror #17 suggested that the death penalty was synonymous with revenge. The death penalty is not revenge; it is justice".
* Justice is legally and socially driven; revenge is personally and emotionally driven.
* Justice is based upon established law and moral principles; revenge is based upon vindictiveness and spite.
* Justice offers a resolution and brings about closure; revenge is cyclic in nature and never ending.
* Justice protects society and prevents victimization; revenge puts society in danger and facilitates victimization.
* Justice is grounded in fairness and equality; revenge is grounded in payback and self-entitlement. Voting for the death penalty is a vehicle for justice. Not voting for the death penalty to fulfill a personal agenda is a vehicle for revenge. So really, perjuror #17 is the avenger.