Corporate media coverage of the recent execution of Marcellus Williams serves as a further reminder that it is a major source of misinformation and moral confusion in America today.
The press, liberal social commentators, and civil rights groups claimed Missouri.lynched” and “killedThey claim that DNA testing has proven Mr. Williams “innocent.” that they failed report It said, “The DNA on the murder weapon belonged to a deputy prosecutor and an investigator who handled the weapon without gloves before the trial.''
The problem with our culture's view of justice is that it is artificial, materialist, and functionally Marxist.
of fact Some of the cases are open to the public, but looking through court documents is a waste of time when you feel like you're doing the work of justice by speaking up for the wrongly accused. is.
Williams was found guilty at a 2001 trial of brutally murdering Felicia Gale on August 11, 1998. She was stabbed 43 times and her belongings were stolen. The victim's personal belongings were found in the trunk of the car Williams was driving. Williams sold the laptop to a man named Glenn Roberts within days of the murder. Williams confessed to Gale's murder to his girlfriend and to Gale immediately after the murder. inmate in a St. Louis prison.
I understand that reasonable people have different views on the death penalty. Some argue that a state should never take the life of a citizen, even if proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Some say the death penalty disproportionately affects black people. inmateespecially, victim It's white. Some believe that the possibility of executing even one innocent person is enough reason to abolish the death penalty.
Progressives opposed the death penalty in the Marcellus Williams case for the reasons listed above, arguing that executing innocent people is immoral and wrong. I feel the same way. If new evidence comes to light proving his innocence, it would simply be a miscarriage of justice.
But progressives who are both abolitionists and abortion absolutists should not lecture anyone about taking innocent lives. The people most likely to bring up rape and incest in an abortion discussion have flipped moral compasses, making them feel more sympathy for a convicted criminal than for a newborn baby. .
Pro-life conservatives often face the question of why they support the death penalty while opposing abortion. This question requires a clear answer. A pro-life worldview asserts that the value of human life is inherent, regardless of age, gender, race, education, disability, or even criminal history.
The source of this value is our Creator. Genesis 1:27 affirms that men and women are created in the image of God, while Genesis 9:6 puts the value of life as a punishment for intentionally taking it. It's tied together. God created humans in his own image. ”
This may be difficult for many to accept, but one practical way to determine the value of something is the cost that would have to be paid if it were destroyed. If you accidentally drop an egg carton, it will cost a few dollars to replace and it will take time to clean up the mess. But intentionally destroying a Faberge egg would be far more expensive, reaching millions of dollars in value and potentially leading to criminal charges.
The same applies to the criminal justice system. The penalties for theft and assault are different from those for rape and murder. The federal government and some states believe that some crimes are so heinous that the person who committed them must pay the ultimate price.
A pro-life perspective on the death penalty does not violate principles of justice, despite progressive opposition. “An eye for an eye'' and “a life for a life'' are moral simply because the punishment is commensurate with the crime. Worse options, such as dealing with the eyes or living with the whole family, demonstrate the importance of proportional justice. True justice requires an appropriate moral framework.
As Leviticus 19:15 teaches: Do not give preferential treatment to the poor or follow the great, but judge your neighbor with justice. ”
The problem with our culture's view of justice is that it is artificial, materialist, and functionally Marxist. Liberal social commentators and policy makers often view the world through the lens of the oppressor/oppressor dualism. This worldview is tied to “social justice,” but it does not determine innocence or guilt. True justice transcends categories such as black, white, blue, red, and green.
Democrats see a disproportionate number of black men on death row and believe that racism drives our legal system. But they see a disproportionate number of black babies being killed in the womb and call it “empowerment.” I understand that you have mixed feelings about the death penalty, but I won't listen to lectures from people who oppose the death penalty for people other than unborn children.
