I was screaming at the radio

[semperfiona]

NPR ran a story this morning about Justice Scalia and his support for the death penalty. It began by saying he had vehemently dissented from the recent decision that declared it unconstitutional to execute the mentally retarded, and went on to cover a speech he made at the University of Chicago recently. Listen here if you want to scream at your computer.

He made many insulting comments, references to incorrect history, and was very self-righteous and full of himself. He claimed that judges who believe the death penalty is immoral must resign from the justice system. He claimed that the only reason the death penalty has been abolished in Europe is that Europe is "post-christian"; that it remains popular here in the "church-going United States" because "to a believing christian death is no big deal". Oh, and he said the death penalty can't possibly be cruel and unusual punishment because it existed when the constitution was written. Yes, and torture existed then (and still does) but that doesn't make it right!

My fingers are spontaneously cramping into fists. I'm fighting the urge to scream even now just thinking about it. I really was screaming back at the radio. Unfortunately I was so angry all I could do was call him a bastard and an asshole--not exactly reasoned or intelligent discourse.

Comments

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Slavery existed when the constitution was written, as did flogging.

[corwin77.livejournal.com]

I think someone should tie him down to an electric chair so he can get a taste of what its like, then he can tell me its not cruel and unusual...

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

If you considered his ideas regarding "society's need for justice" you'd be even more enraged. He's abandoned the "executions as a deterrent" idea and gone straight to "society is outraged, and needs an execution to make it feel better" model of reasoning.

Scalia is essentially the voice of society's inner school yard bully.

[semperfiona]

Eeeeeeeeeeehh, yeah, I remember something to that effect from the piece this morning. I think I suppressed that memory. "The purpose of punishment is retribution... The death penalty is the ultimate form of retribution. Devil's Island might have been worse than getting your head chopped off, but not residence in today's penal system with a television." (paraphrase, probably missing something important and even more inflammatory)