5.0 out of 5 stars
A Poignant Collection, a Masterful Compilation!, February 10, 2010
This review is from: Capital Ideas: 150 Classic Writers on the Death Penalty, from the Code of Hammurabi to Clarence Darrow (Paperback)
Susan Ives has compiled this work so that the reader may comprehend the history of the subject of study and in turn realize the gravity of this ever imperative, perpetual controversy. A controversy that has been in existence since mankind has attempted to govern itself. Furthermore, she has accomplished this arduous task brilliantly. The book is a collection of 151 historically documented writings, which include personal opinions/eyewitness accounts, governmental proclamations/views, as well as miscellaneous essays and passages that are then divided into four chronological sections. The texts begin with the Code of Hammurabi - circa 1790 B.C., and conclude with a somewhat obscure accounting of a beheading in Paris - circa A.D.1930, although the most recent piece of the batch is dated 1931.
Given the study pieces, along with their vividly graphic descriptions, this rendering is not suitable for young children. However, at the same time, and for the appropriate grade level, Capital Ideas possesses exceptional pedagogic value. The cross-referencing end notes and index is much appreciated by this reader, and permits for the work to become a very handy reference volume.
The work is designed for the scholar as well as the general reading community.
For the scholar: Although many of the individual documents of study will not be new to them, the context of study in which they are placed, may render a variation of perception that will be revelational.
For the general reader: They will be introduced to a broad selection of writings, most of which will be a new discovery. Collectively, this anthology will certainly help to arouse the necessary emotions, which will hopefully one day end the singular infamy, known as Capital Punishment.
Within the introduction, Susan Ives states her hopes for Capital Ideas; that the book may help to bring the "sentence of death" to the forefront of the general public's mind, and further disseminate the reality/ies of it. Unfortunately, I suppose for most people capital punishment is a dark and distant reality of our society. This distance, coupled with the introduction of more "humane" methods of taking life, allows it to be more readily ignored or easily dismissed. In fact, as I repose in the comfort of my library, enjoying the genius of Boccherini, and write this brief appraisal, the idea of leading some unfortunate soul to a specific location and then murdering her/him, is almost surreal. Moreover, when one ponders the melancholy reality that mankind has been taking such liberty for as long as history has been recorded, an inescapable feeling of disappointment and shame overwhelms the senses.
In reality, moral/social evils cannot be ignored, and must never be dismissed, or worse, verbally manipulated, so that they are morally justified; actually, when good people do nothing while evil has its way, it is not time to reevaluate/redefine what is "evil" it is time to reevaluate/define what "good people" are.
This comprehensive anthology commences with Hammurabi's Law of Retribution, which is more popularly known as Lex Talionis...It is always more impressive in Latin.
Although, the first account of Lex Talionis may be traced to Cain's predetermination of his own destruction, the limited confirmable accounts of this event are viewed dubious by many; hence, the Code of Hammurabi, which is more thoroughly documented (and much less contentious), is a reasonable point of departure. Yet, when one ponders Cain's story, although it is given less credence (Book of Jubilees-Chapter 4), it does possess considerable relevance to the controversy at hand. Capital Punishment should not be explained away with terms such as necessary justice or blind justice;
1. It should never be considered necessary to murder.
2. Justice is based in truth - truth is not blind, it is the only thing that is real! However, human perception is capable of and prone to blindness.
No person led Cain to a place of execution and, once there, took his life from him. Cain prepared his own destruction the day he murdered his brother. And, like Cain, none of us may escape our own justice/punishment, no matter what money we may spend or who we know/are; our ultimate justice is real, it is inevitable and implacable. Moreover, none of us should presume to know or administer such absolute justice for others no matter how capably we may rationalize it.
With this said, I believe I have exemplified the worth of this serious and much needed study. I sincerely hope that Capital Ideas receives the approbation that it so richly deserves. Godspeed you on your mission.
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