Are you a country devoid of mercy and forgiveness?

[canetoad]

Like most of DU, I'm not religious. What is the point of Michael Cohen spending more time in jail? An eye for an eye?

The US should grind to a halt in protest of the final frenzy of federal executions.

You've lost your soul and become an angry and vengeful society. That needs to be reversed.

[LSFL]

1. Americans think that forgiveness means exoneration for the perpetrator.

For me, forgiveness is for myself. Letting go of anger and vengefulness so I can move on has made me a much stronger person. I am not at all religious, but I know what works for me. I no longer advocate for the death of anyone. Locked up forever keeps society safe. It is sufficient. If this life is all there is or if they face judgment after death, permanent confinement is sufficient.

[canetoad]

2. Locked up forever.

THE FACTS OF LIFE SENTENCES
1 IN 7 PEOPLE IN PRISON IS SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE

The unprecedented growth of life sentences in the United States runs counter to declining crime rates and growing challenges to mass incarceration. The overwhelming majority of individuals who commit crime—even serious crime—will “age out” of criminal behavior, and their continued incarceration diminishes returns on public safety. This is both wasteful and inhumane. To provide a better approach to advancing public safety, sentencing policies in the United States should be capped at a maximum of 20 years in prison, except in circumstances in which the individual still represents a clear threat to public safety.

https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Facts-of-Life.pdf

[LSFL]

6. I agree completely with you

My thinking is to eliminate this barbaric death penalty first then get rid of the life without parole. It is inhumane. Nearly everyone mellows with age. If they remain a "monster " for decades, mental illness probably plays a part.

Another thing we could do away with is victim impact statements. They are useless and damaging to the victims families. I don't know the psychology behind it, but watch some victim impact statements on YouTube and you will see what I mean.

And why should showing remorse have anything to do with parole? An admission of guilt should be enough. Remorse is very subjective. I am very stoic and show little emotion. I feel things but don't wear it on my sleeve. I can't imagine that prison time would make me appear more sensitive. I could go on and on. The implicit truthfulness of cops? The over the top rhetoric of the prosecution? Public defenders paid by the state? Stacking charges to get pleas? Trial by media? No bail? In jail for nonpayment of fines? Arrested because you can't get to court? Years before your trial while you sit in a cell? Assumed guilt? Details of your case relentlessly promoted in the press before your trial , effectively assassinating your character and destroying your family and employment? Jailing the mentally ill and elderly dementia victims? Ain't no justice in this system.

I got a lot more. My horse isn't tired but I will get off of it now.

We don't have a justice system. We have a vengeance/cater to fears of the populace system.

[My Pet Orangutan]

3. I think this sort of broad brush does nobody any good,

lest of all liberals who have to deal with angry and vengeful trumpers.

There's a battle going on for the soul of the nation, there always is, but it is fierce and traumatic right now. Very traumatic.

Lazy invective, a few days before this awful Christmas, is contraindicated.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. It's a product of a society consumed by making and spending money and...

a society that is extremely divided. When we hate the "other side", then we're prone to not care if they receive compassionate treatment and fair justice.

It's also exactly where the ultra-wealthy and the retail, entertainment and banking industries want us - divided and unable to organize against anything (note the recent trend toward violent counter-protests at every protest event). Unions are mostly gone and communities hardly exist any more as we knew them in the 50s and 60s.

Divided societies totally consumed by self-interest are glad to have troublesome people locked away and forgotten. I had significant exposure to that phenomena back in the 90s and it in itself is a crime against humanity.

KY...

[abqtommy]

5. There's a lot of good/productive people in this country we call The U.S. of A. It's unfortunate

that we don't hear about them in our media but many of them came out to effect some badly
needed change in our recent General Election.

[Chainfire]

7. Forgiveness can only follow repentance.

Anything else begs to be treated as a victim.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. As a cop abolitionist and prison abolitionist, I hear you. A better way is possible.

[Towlie]

9. So where do you live? Australia, I gather. Why group us all together like that?