Should the death penalty be legal ?

One of the all too noticeable aspects of society, and the world we live in is crime, and punishment. Across cultural boundaries what is considered a crime is varied but one issue that must be addressed is punishment. In this article what I will attempt to do is present a fair, and balanced exploration of the death penalty.

What I shall attempt to find out is if the death penalty is a decent punishment in certain circumstances or if it should be applied accordingly with great thought.

Firstly no one ever really gains from a criminal act of course the more cynical minded among us will point to the police, and the legal eagles. However in fairness those involved in law, and order, or the legal dealings of this world no more relish high crime rates, or seeing people in the back of squad cars.

They are people just doing a job like anyone, and take no enjoyment in criminality as many of those who work in protecting us, and upholding the law worry that someday it might be their Son, or Daughter going away to the big house.

Now lets look at a situation a man murders his wife, strangles her with an extension chord, and burns her body in an open pit. Should he be executed, or given life imprisonment?. Judging from the scenario involved he brutally butchered his spouse, and rid himself of her remains almost as savagely.

Of course many of us looking at this case would think more critically beyond the initial details of  murder, and concealment of a crime. We would look at the persons mental stability when the crime occurred, and evidence of premeditation.

However despite the need to think critically when examining the issue of crime, and punishment the one concern we should have above all else is human liberty. The question that is most needed to bring this concern to the forefront is does one human have the right to take the life of another?

For me the answer is no, and I cannot really hide this fact we only have one life, and if another extinguishes it's flame then it can be argued the perpetrator deserves the same.   


Despite this realization I understand criteria such as mental condition should be considered in sentencing. It is arguable though that life imprisonment is a effective death sentence, and even crueler than being executed. Think about the mental, and spiritual decay of staring at blank walls each day until you die.


Knowing you will never spend time with your friends outside of prison walls is enough to drive most people to despair, and self-destruction. Looking at a different situation lets say in the context of a Muslim society. Imagine being a woman being killed by a member of your own family for bringing shame upon your kin.


The crime is you wish not to become engaged in a arranged marriage, and in fact love a woman. If it is possible to think about this in a rational manner. Deciding to enter a partnership is a serious life time commitment.


A commitment where a person should be allowed to think about the consequences, and decide for themselves. Now I do not know about you but I personally do not feel such a situation warrants a death sentence.


Last time I checked deciding for ones self in life is not a horrible thing to do. No one is hurt except the would be spouse but it takes two if a marriage is going to work. As I have pointed out their are times when a death penalty should be carried out.


These times include where their is a clear violation of human liberty, and concealment of a crime. However reasons against the death penalty are convincing especially when it is used to deny human liberty. Overall their are clear cut arguments for, and against the use of the death penalty. However as this is an issue of fundamental importance life, and death the soul hand that pulls the switch must be that of the public's decision.

Prodigal son

Many times in life we often forget who we are, who our friends are, and turn away from what is real in our lives for illusions of grandeur. These illusions may be fame, money, or material possessions. While not being destitute, and being well liked is good in life focusing on these values is the great poison of today.

With so much emphasis on advertising of nice products, and smiles of the tanned Hollywood Gods, and,Goddesses it is not impossible to sympathise with people wanting these products, or lifestyles of the famous. In this article what I will endeavor to do is give convincing reasons, and tips to why you should not feel bad if you don't drive a Ferrari, or are not married to Paris Hilton.

For many of us material possesions are the be all, and end all of what to expect in life. This is the case so much that we overlook things in our life that are of significant value. These hidden treasures may be love, or respect of true friends which we forget when seduced by money or fame.

In the end it is often them bailing us out of trouble when we disgrace ourselves publicly while sinking to our lowest point privately. Speaking from personal experience I can attest to this being accurate. For many years I have struggled through my teens. In many ways I was the poster boy for teenage angst.

My lowest point came when in a drunken rage I got into a physical altercation with a person whom I considered more important to me than anything in fact my life in many ways. Needless to say after whatoccurred my long suffering friend quiet rightly walked away from me.

To say I was deeply ashamed at my actions is not even merrited when imagining the inner rot I felt. After all what occured was a debacle of epic proportions I had literarly pushed my friend out of my life, and disgraced myself. In the days, and weeks that followed I had began to become more reclusive, and for a time struggled to accept the beast that raged in me.

Luckily for me in my time of darkness my true friends were around to help me. Sensing what occurred on the night in question was not the real me they stuck by me, and over time I began to turn the corner, and slowly tackle my demons becoming a better person.

My friends helped me despite I forgetting them to satisfy my ego but when I needed them they were around to help me a rather sobering experience if one is honest with themselves. This is why it is important to remember when you pursue things that are illusory like lust, or material possessions because, it is always them that are their for you, and act as a safety valve from disaster.

Another tactic apart from remembering a time in the past when you disgraced yourself pursuiong poisioned fruits , and were burnt to only discover the rock of support of your friends is to engage in community ventures. Community engagement can be a wonderful experience especially as it involves coming together in groups of diverse people to share what time, and skills you all have.

This wonderful experience is because working with other members of the community provides you with the unique opportunity, and responsibility to make a difference in the lives of others. When seeing the smiles of others following your work with them you will understand that despite once again lacking possessions or wealth money will never  match the positive influence you can have on the life of others.

The tactics that I gave you to deal with false promises, and illusions in life should help you to do so but if they do not remember this you allready have enough treasures in life like friends, and the respect of your peers to such an extent that no person dead, or alive could buy it. Just remember that, and you will be fine.

Keeping up with the Kardashians

In the world we live in one thing is not es-capable that fame, and fortune is more recognized, and held as being more valuable than honest ordinary work when was the last time you seen your plumber on Expose?. For years this has been the case many of us buy lottery tickets on the way home hoping to hit the jack pot.

All over the world, and during the Celtic tiger years in Ireland celebrity worship was fever pitch, and still is as many hope to escape the austere years ahead. What we must ask ourselves is whether celebrity, and money as well as the trappings that go with it are better?. Separately another question must be asked is a celebrity Worth more than those who work tirelessly in our communities without recognition.

To do this I will compare the stories of various adored celebrities to ordinary people these people will be fictional compared to the real life celebs. Kim Kardashian is the famous personality, and socialite most recently she is famous for divorcing spots star Kevin Humphrey’s after 72 days of marriage.

This is despite the content of the Kardashians being no better than what your family or mine would provide with their own show. I really do not want to be mean however because the hard work I see people in my own community do I have no choice but to be critical.

People such as Frank who trains kid’s to play football get little fanfare but the work he does is important.By teaching young people to play a healthy sport not only does he create a positive legacy trading his knowledge, and skills to give young people a constructive past time he contributes to the lessening thehealth costs his community pay years from now.

Really does Kim Kardashian’s work do more for society, and make a greater contribution than Frank’s? another well endorsed celebrity is the notable footballer Wayne Rooney. A prodigious talent he is noted for his technical, and creative prowess on the field.

Unfortunately that is not all he is known for despite Mr Rooney’s ample talent and potential to be as great as 1966 hero Geoff Hearst he has not exactly enshrined himself in history with his alleged off field antics. Mr Rooney is an alleged past brothel user known for allegedly securing the services of hookers. 

As a man I do not know about you but it is hard not to be sickened by such alleged behaviour. If we may think for a second cheapening the act of sex to having no real priceless value is rather low. I am a pretty open minded guy but I understand you do not have the liberty to personally disrespect another person even if they willingly participate in being stripped of their dignity.

A person may have free will to do something but they do not have the liberty to co-mitt an act that cheapens women to being an item both, and sold when they as a public figure are assigned the responsibility to be pillars of the community that people look to.

If we once again compare Wayne Rooney lets say to a police officer who serves the public every day, and goes home to his wife, and kids to help them with their homework once again Mr Rooney’s alleged past affairs does not look flattering. Many of us still want the lifestyles of those mentioned in this article. Lets ask ourselves a question however.

Is fame, and money ever be as worth as much as we think it is?. Many of us may be poor in finances but their is a richness that does not knowing how to conform for fame, and it is called personal integrity which many of us have in spades.

Standing before ourselves in front of the mirror today lets look inside ourselves, and say I may not be a millionaire but the work I do is valuable, and I possess treasures that no Emperor can conquer, and cannot be bought for any price. 

( It should be noted the writer of this piece means no offence, and will immediately retract anything that is proven to be slanderous, and defamatory and outright lies with a full public apology issued)

How to get over a relationship

One of the most painful experiences in life is the feeling of having your heart broken in two as a result of the break up of a relationship. Despite such emotional turmoil it is not impossible to escape the fall out from the demise of a relationship. In fact the end of a relationship can be liberating.

When we enter a relationship as people the trade off we make is not usually noticed at all. 

Thinking two is better than one we go down the path of sharing who we are with another. If one is honest we become so engrossed in our bond with another the fundamental work of our life goes undone.

Due to this the newly liberated man, or woman should be happy to be able to focus on her independent desires full time removed from the context of working around a relationship.

 This is easier said than done one of the main things that does not escape people for a long time when them, and their partner part ways is pain. The past memories off walks on the beach, and holding hands can haunt a person.

I can really sympathize personally I have felt their pain but most times the relationship once it is over their usually is no going back, and the best thing to do is move on straight away rather than suffer the wrenching pain of longing for what once was, and now never will be again.

To move on the thing you have to do is replace the thoughts of your break up with new positive emotions these thoughts can be of a happy incident with a friend, or love one not related to your prior relationship. Even if the thought is off chocolate as long as it removes you from a situation where you are focused on feeling bad because, you are thinking about your recent ex.

What should occur by using this technique is by living your life like you were never in a relationship before today, and never broke up with your ex your life should become what you thought it was because you were mainly thinking of certain thoughts, and occupying yourself with productive tasks you have drawn the situation into your life where you have attracted positive events changing your whole life situation.

This law of attraction effect can really change you to where you were wallowing in misery following a break up to where you are not even thinking about your ex, and his/her miserable life. Although we can get over others following a long tern relationship ending we never really loose touch with them.

They could be gone maybe even deceased but while their loss no longer emotionally cripples us as a person the memory of each being we once held in our minds as special in our lives is part of us forever making us stronger in future.

Get off my grass arguments for, and against the legalisation of narcotics. 


In the world we live in it is almost impossible to avoid some form of escapism be it good or bad in nature.
One of the greatest forms of escapism is narcotics which have been around since the days of Christ. 


However despite many types of drugs, and drug users from the recreational college marijuana experience to hardcore coke heads the general opinion of the public at large is that drugs are bad for the individual, and society.


In this article I hope to argue both sides of the cause to discover what the truth actually is to present the issue in a fair, and balanced fashion. To do this I will look at the historical use, of drugs, and argue from a common sense position for both legalisation, and banning of narcotics.

Are drugs bad

The first argument against having drugs legal always has been that the effects of drugs are detrimental to society, and the effects ranging from bodily effects like psychosis to the damage to people , and property caused by people under their influence is enough to justify the banning of drugs outright.

Despite this argument it can be said who are we to prevent others from destroying their own health but from an opposing view point a person despite probably destroying their own lives from employment to health from drug use, they should not be allowed to hurt others or, damage their property. 

It should be noted though not all drug use has been chaotic, and destructive, and it can be argued the experiences a user has, and manifests on others has not always being to the detriment to the user, and society for example many great songs, and ideas that created the world we live in, and saved, and created many lives be them economic or spiritual have come from narcotic users.

As an example George Washington himself was an avid drug user, and America's first president, and his legacy still lives in the world we have today. So from an argumentative standpoint drug use is both negative, and positive and drugs can neither be labelled good or bad due to mixed perspectives, and personal experiences.

Do drugs cause crime?

Another argument against drug legalisation is that drugs will cause crime, and giving people legal highs will make the problem worse as drug use will spiral out of control causing a crime wave . From evidence to date in Holland where marijuana is legal for residents crime is rather stable from most citizens accounts, and despite increased marijuana use at first drug use has not reached a point of concern.

This is despite the famed gateway effect, and in Holland increased marijuana use did not lead on to heavy use of lethal cocaine or heroine. People who buy drugs off criminals at the end of the day usually do so for escapist reasons once lighter forms of escape prove futile for example Kurt Cobain whom suffered from extreme stomach pain only cured by heroine.

Many heavy drugs do indeed have positive uses but should that warrant them being legalised on mass perhaps not but will them legal lead to increased crime the answer is a resounding no for example prohibition ( banning) of America's historic drug alcohol in the 30s increased crime to fever pitched proportions from daily murder to bootlegging.

Crime will probably be unaffected by drug legalisation as drug dealers will merely undercut the price of legal highs just as they do at the moment with cheap box's of cigarettes.

Conclusion 

It can be seen from the above arguments their are no real clear cut reasons for the legalisation of drugs , and their are both benefits to be gained from having some use of drugs so perhaps the best that can be hoped for is a middle ground with some legalisation to gain some of the creative benefits of narcotics while avoiding the destructive influences of it. 

Is God good or is the Devil evil? 

There is not a person to my recollection who accepts the view that God may, in fact, be a nasty individual and that the devil may be, in fact, kinder than the so-called  father of Mankind this is despite the obvious human suffering in the world and cries of pain that can be heard all around the world.

In this article, my aim will be to prove God is a kind being, evil or, just at best no use to the sons of man it should be noted that I as a person am no religious authority but just a pundit so do not take what I say as gospel. In my opinion, from a layman's biblical experience feel God is not as kind as people make him out to be and is in fact a nasty guy.

The reasons for me feeling like this are due to my recollection of several biblical stories most importantly the story of Adam and Eve where Adam and Eve eat apples from the tree of life as I believe it was called in this story God said Adam, and Eve could have anything except apples of the tree and the devil convinced Adam and Eve to eat the apples bringing sin into the world and God cast both humans out of the Garden of Eden.

It is widely accepted God was correct to do so as it was his hospitality Adam and Eve were the guests of, and as a result he was entitled to throw them out of his property if both humans did not follow his wishes well I beg to differ on this version of events and the devil being made out to be the bad guy. I t may be true that God is entitled to do as he wishes with his property but this does not give him the right to do so at the expense of human development.

Property can be bought and sold any day or in God's case be created at the click of his fingers while human mental growth could not have been if Adam and Eve did not eat the apples from the sacred tree with Satan's encouragement  so in a way it was kinder of the devil to encourage mankind to enlighten itself to the reality of the world  while God tried to keep mankind ignorant and naked.

Just because God has the power of life and death it surely does not mean he has the power to stop mankind from becoming nothing more than brainless chimps? after all it can be argued God was trying to prevent us from the worst like war and disease but in doing, so he was in my opinion preventing mankind from living up to its full potential.

We surely as a species can only become kinder and gentler and much more by experiencing tragedy, and it is hardly fair to be kept feeling one mono-emotion like Adam and Eve would have prior to being enlightened to their humanity in comparison to their ignorant monkey state before eating the apples of life.

God's treatment of Adam and Eve whose actions hurt no one but themselves no one else could be hurt by eating the apples except them is hardly condone-able in comparison to Satan, who wanted man to be liberated from his primitive state to be more than he was.

Being banned from the garden of Eden for becoming more than they were greater than robots eating and sleeping naked is just a authoritarian response of a bully who cannot get his way and because of God's actions of trying to limit mankind and throwing of a tantrum because the devil freed man from being slaves to his and her god imposed  condition make me say from such anecdotal evidence God is no nice guy, and the Devil seems like not such a bad guy.

Remember God let his own son be slaughtered despite him being able to save himself showing once again God may not be this magnificent patriarch/ being who is kind and caring and on many occasions, he has destroyed the world when he was not happy with what we were doing.

Last time I checked. How does what we do affect him? and what gives him the right to interfere on our personal affairs and lives considering it does not affect him as far as I know in any way.

If God were good, he would have surely allowed his own son to live and not ordered him to sacrifice himself to redeem man not only if each of had a son who we know could save himself, we would let him do so if he could as we would care about himself to do so. Furthermore, we would be humble and not pretentious to think we could redeem mankind from sin after all who is he to say if we are evil or in need of redemption. 

If God at least made an argument to us to why we needed redemption I might have a softer tone towards him but since he did not any interfered with his son's liberty to live and our personal liberty to run our own lives I 

have no real reason to be restrained in my criticism.

 

A few quite ones 

On a weekend, many of us enjoy a sociable drink at the pub or at home and by now we are used to having it at a reasonable price without standing at the bar to wait for it if that is our choice and to avoid such a annoyance, we go to the off licence or liquor store.

Even though most of us drink responsibly some of us sure as hell don't  and as a result ruins the night of others behaving like fools or the scum of the earth and just outright kill the mood of a magical, evening by punching a bystander or jumping on their car when stationary or in motion.

There is no denying binge drinking and drunken behavior are a problem, but they have always been in this article I shall be talking about why it is the problem it is using my native Ireland as, a case study and looking at the very recent decision of the Tory government in England to deal with compulsive drinking in England.

I shall assess whether there are reasons from my own native country's history for binge drinking and whether the UK governments' response is the correct way to address the issue or just a recipe, for punishing those of us who just like the odd pint.

In Ireland, the pint of Guinness is much a part of Irish DNA as anything but we Irish have always been portrayed as the drunken Irish man who slaps the wife into a corner after too many drinks, perhaps unfairly.

If you look at Irish history perhaps we have reason more than most to drink for 800 years, we were under British rule, and this perhaps does not explain our aversion towards a pint of plain but on a psychological, level if you consider the many losses the Irish suffered land, self-respect and banishment to peripheral land in what was once their own country it may not be entirely, unfair to say as people we may have turned to drink to escape the hardship of life.

As if we look at life on a personal basis, we ourselves have turned to drink to escape harsh realities or to make ourselves  feel somewhat better so my previous claim while may not be, the true cause of Ireland's drinking as drinking to excess continued in more prosperous times recently.

This, however, is proof perhaps as a country. we Irish are just predisposed to drinking more than others and perhaps drink problems should be addressed on a cultural basis rather than with sweeping evasive legislation.

The Tory government's idea of minimum alcohol pricing in which a price of 40p per unit will be brought in along with other legislation banning multiple bottles of wine for 10 pounds and a levy, on bars and clubs to pay for policing.

On a foundation of principle, I have no problem with the state trying to combat binge drinking but looking at the proposed legislation straight away as a Libertarian, I can see the unfairness of punishing, more moderate drinkers because of those who abuse alcohol, why should people who just want a beer or bottle of wine for a dinner party be punished because some people, get pissed and break windows?

Rather than go into a whole ethical debate, I will just say the reason it is strike  one against the UK government's plans in my opinion on an economic basis a levy on pubs and clubs to pay for policing, is a job killer in the industry as it will more than likely put people off going out to them if they are faced with higher costs.

Some clubs will be bigger drawers of a crowd than others because of important reasons such as price or entertainment, and this legislation will become critical as it forces many who cannot, compete to close causing job losses.

More important is the moral principle of if we let the state interfere in private business matters and personal lives are. Where will it stop? Once a precedent of trying to make the citizens behave, in a certain way through the jack boot of parliament trying to rule what we do and at what price we must pay to do something.

The question I think is are we were really free to do as we please without the state acting like our Daddy? Overall, I think the law will be a failure and is a bandage to cover gaping, social and cultural, cancers like mental illness and personal trauma as most people want drink because of price but rather abuse drink to escape brutal truths in their own personal realms while others just want to get pissed and will do so buying bootleg alcohol  on the black market.