how can we justifiably replicate it by taking the perpetrator's life also? Pardon the cliche but how can two wrongs make everything right?...as far as I am concerned we don't have carte blanche to take another person's life no matter how you dress it up in terms of criminal justice/law. To me it smacks of contradiction.
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Great point your Highgrandholiness. It's because of your insights and perception, that you have been elevated to the highest echelon of supreme eminence and reverence. ๐
I love this film and haven't seen for a few years and have seen several times. Have also read the book. I am awaiting a blu ray order from the US. It knocked me for a six when I first saw this when it was released, and while very controversial and many people that I knew who saw it took a b&w pro or anti-stance, I was more concerned with the mechanisms, sociology and attitudes of a confused and questionable justice system that is promoting and conditioning the eye for an eye concept. One lady I knew, commented that a female friend of hers went to see it and after it was over had to take a long walk by herself. It must've really got to her and pushed some buttons on an emotional, intellectual and even spiritual level.
Penn's character was a scumbag and this is irrefutable and one of the main themes of the film that resonated with meโregardless of what one's stance is and what one's religious beliefs areโis the acceptance of "truth" and taking full responsibility for ones own actions. That includes both the Matthew Poncelet characterโhe was a merge of 2 death row inmates that Prejean advised in the bookโand the justice and penal system themselves. It was a very moving and powerful scene when Sister Helen got Matt to face up to his involvement in the crime and holding back on his denial and playing the blame game he was projecting at everyone else.
I commented on another thread recently that the death penalty also punishes the family members of the convicted, even when they had nothing to do with it. DMW, being the well adjusted and balanced film it was, covers this aspect also. The response I got was one of "who cares" about the family and friends. Those that are close to the convicted criminal, would probably rather they at least be still alive rotting in prison somewhere, than having to be thrown smack dab into the middle of a supposedly righteous and honorable system that is really being vindictive, callous, condescending and hypocritical to their own feelings. The families of the victims also need to be aware of this aspect too. Especially when many are living a life forged by Christian values of forgiveness and salvation. Killing a killer, doesn't fix the issues "inherently" large in our corrupt, confused, confounded and ignorant society and is only endorsing killing as being acceptable on "selective" terms, even though killing it is regarded as "criminal" & "illegal". The fear of dying is taken to the extreme and then used as catalyst to dispense the ultimate punishment of death. How does a self-righteous system even know that is what the "victim" themselves would have wanted for their killer?
Yeah, call me a do-gooder here and I haven't had my life impacted by a scenario of this sort; but I would like to think that I could look at a situation like this with a "realistic", open and level-headed and dare I say compassionate outlook.
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:๐ฉ
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highpriestess32
8 years ago
Hey, Rascal. What an informative and open-minded post - I read it a few days ago and now have put time aside to respond.
I don't perceive you to be a so-called "do-gooder". This is often a term that is used to discredit rational-minded and deep-thinking folks. In fact, without such rationality among the general populace, civilisation would consist only of rabid and toxic vigilantes - the sort of folk who are happy to condemn a suspected criminal without trial and simply covet to burn him/her at the stake without hesitation.
Personally I am happy that the DP is no longer existent in the UK. The flatline is that whatever religious persuasion one may or not lean towards, we have an in-built sense of right and wrong when we are mentally capable but can behave like savages when emotion comes into play. I do believe in a higher realm and only that element should dictate - not governments.
There is ZERO justification for pulling the handle on anyone. You can pass the blame through the government to the judge and to the jury then the executioner to dilute actual blame because this fundementally equates to no one person being directly responsible which essentially enables "society" to continue acting as judge, jury and executioner without having blood on their hands.
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"
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rascal67
8 years ago
Hey your highpriestlyness, here are some tropical ๐บ๐บ๐บ for you to go with your ๐ด and I also forgot to give you a ๐น the other day, so lets make it 2 ๐น's.
Thank you for your thoughtful response. It is nice to hear level-headed and self-aware responses, especially regarding a controversial issue like this excellent film portrays. I like what you have mentioned about the "do-gooder" label to discredit or undermine those that are thinking more laterally and deeper than others. It is a common retort I find and sometimes most of these people aren't even worth having a discussion with when they are really being shortsighted and narrow-minded. Much of it is just born out of ignorance anyway. Like they say, you can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think.
Judging a situation can be deemed normal, it is the harsh condemnation aspect that comes into play that can be disconcerting. Those that are operating from a lynch mob, eye for an eye mentality, can at times have an attitude that is no better than those they are condemning. We can't have people running around doing vile, violent disgusting things to others, and if they can't act like reasonable humans, then there should be a price to pay by being kept apart from the rest in society; but endorsing and perpetrating a punishment that is so extreme, when it was considered an illegal act in the first place, appears absurd in itself. What message is it portraying or putting out there?
Yes, the blame game and passing the buck can appear like a quick fix and resolution, especially when their are political agendas and careers involved too. Ultimately, it is not really addressing the bigger picture though and like they say, blood stains, so does the problem really go away?
Exorcist: Christ's power compels you. Cast out, unclean spirit.
Destinata:๐ฉ
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highpriestess32
8 years ago
Hi my friend,
Thanks for the cocktails and yet another very interesting response. ๎
I am starting an open Criminology course which is quite intense. I am studying the deviance element so movies like this one do inspire me in my essays.
You are 100% correct in your presumption regarding where this eye-for-an-eye mentality actually leads. If you care to check my thread on "The Green Mile" board there's a thread about the execution of Del which was purposely botched by that twunt Percy in deliberately neglecting to wet the sponge. I think that thread, entitled "Serves Del's Audience Right", might appeal to you. Let me link you to it to save you time. Have a lovely day and thanks for your ongoing responses on the various boards. It's rare to find like-minded posters on IMDb. It's a case of wearing a bullet-proof vest before entering sometimes ๎ฉ
EDIT: Might help if I include the link haha!! ๎
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120689/board/flat/229443308
"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"
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