As I get older, I try my best not to post judgmental posts without at least considering different sides. Maybe I shouldn’t impose this value as I read different posts in Facebook and other media of people condemning and questioning Australia’s serious effort in saving two “drug lords” and “scumbags”.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it that drugs kills and tragically affect those around them. I get it that it destroys lives beyond those who consume the substance. I sympathise with the family and the victims.
I have never done drugs and also condemn those who destroy people’s lives by seducing them to drugs. I also get the symbolic killing of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran – because drug traders are said to have killed thousands of people through their actions.
What I don’t get is the lack of open mind that some people display through their quick judgmental action. The populist quick stroke of judgment that these two are beyond help and that they should serve as a warning. For what? To whom? People continue to use and trade drugs even in countries like the US where death penalty is still in place – the system’s not working.
Listen to the other side. Even if you still keep your own opinion, at least it would be a richer and robust decision, rather than a quick trigger-happy judgment.
I support mercy for the two “scums” because many reports have said that they are rehabilitated or at least in a continuing process of rehabilitation. Andrew Chan wants to pursue a theological path by becoming a pastor, while Myuran Sukumaran has learned a new skill by painting – and a pretty good one at that. They have done something seriously wrong. They get that. They don’t want to be released and they are willing to repay their crime from within confinement. All they want is to be spared the death sentence. They were stupid, they get that.
What message does their execution deliver to those in prisons who have worked hard to improve their lives through rehabilitation? That they shouldn’t bother? They’re going to die anyway. Furthermore, how come the supposedly impartial legal decisions often favour some and not others when it comes to executing criminals in Indonesia. At the end of the day, it is a state-sanctioned murder.
It would be remiss of me not to test my view, had these two been serial rapists or paedophiles or that they had done something totally deplorable within my own boundaries. Setting emotions aside, if they are rehabilitated and they do not wish to be released from their sentence, i.e. they are willing to repay for their crimes – I would probably stick to the same conclusion. Any of us who is without sin can throw the first stone?
I stand for mercy.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found.
Was blind, but now I see.
yes Ry, I understand ur view, but what about those people in bali bombing that the Oz asked to be executed? Yes they killed lots of people, but the drugs dealer too though not at once….So I guess this is where the govt stands at the moment….
Lus – I know the argument that they are killers too – but I have addressed that in my post. However, how could their execution be used as an example or an indication? Indonesia has killed people in the past, and has it eradicated drug problems in the country? What about drug syndicate or manufacturers who can walk scot-free from jail? The US also have death penalty – have they eradicated issues like rapes, murders and drugs?
Death penalty is like a symbol that the criminals are beyond repair – and that they will be useless to the society. It’s a final judgment. In Andrew and Myuran’s case, they have shown that they can be rehabilitated.
As for the argument, “Well Australia asked for death penalty before, so we can do it now as well”. I’d say that it’s a bit juvenile – how come no country want to be the better one and say, “Learn from us, we want to be the better of the two and say, ‘We’ll stop here’.”