Summary:
In H.L. Mencken's essay "The Penalty of Death" an essay in favor of the death penalty. Mencken's essay creates controversy because of his opinion and humor of capital punishment. The death penalty to Mencken is acceptable punishment also described as katharsis; katharsis is "salubrious discharge of emotions, a healthy letting of steam." Mencken bothered with the process of America putting off the punishment for a number of years.
The death penalty has and always will be a controversial topic. People opinions vary depending on the situation involving the death penalty, for example in H.L. Mencken's essay "The Penalty of Death" an essay in favor of the death penalty. Mencken's essay creates controversy because of his opinion and humor of capital punishment. The death penalty to Mencken is acceptable punishment also described as katharsis; katharsis is "salubrious discharge of emotions, a healthy letting of steam." Mencken bothered with the process of America putting off the punishment for a number of years. The death penalty is acceptable and agrees with Mencken's views about katharsis for the victims' families, hangman's job considered unpleasant, and prolongs execution of convicted murderers.
Katharsis is a way for victims releasing grief or anger in a healthy way. For instance, Timothy McVeigh placed bombs in the Oklahoma City building and killed thousands of innocent people. The victims' families were upset, angry, and hurt because of his actions. As a punishment and katharsis for the families healing process Timothy's execution helped many release feelings or emotions held that affected their life. This way it shows the society that individuals who break laws face punishment for their actions. As Mencken states "any lesser penalty leaves them feeling that the criminal has got the better of society that he is free to add insult to injury by laughing." I feel as though anyone who willingly takes a human life should and always get a severe sentence. I understand that there are accidental deaths, but there has to be someone responsible for the situation. Anyone would want a person responsible for the death of a relative or friend see the person receive justice. Some families of the victims stated they did not want to see the killer or murderer executed acclaiming it will not bring back their love one. However, it is hard to believe when most of the families lost their daughters, son, fathers, and mothers by beating the individuals to death, raping, and shooting.
The hangman's job considered the worst or most horrible jobs because of implementing given orders by the court to execute murderers. Mencken states there are many other jobs thinks of abolishing them, for instance a plumber, soldier, garbageman, a priest, a sandhog, and others. All jobs in the world follow the same orders as a hangman by following instructions given to by their boss. In fact, if a hangman's job is unpleasant then what about a doctor. A doctor lives with guilt and depression when the patient's life is lost. How can a doctor say he has the best job when they constantly encounter the same as hangman by seeing individuals dying? There is no physical evidence or even conversation of a hangman complaining about work or the excitement of their job; there are many other professional just the same including sewer plant employee, janitor, and others. There is no difference between any other job and a hangman's job because they all encounter the same issues just different predicaments. Hangman is not the excited individual about executing a criminal as a soldier killing an enemy approaching with a weapon. Even though a hangman is not being attacked and defending theirself, their job is necessary because who else will do the obligation?
The waiting time for convicted criminals is long and tortures the murdered until the scheduled date. The criminal sentenced with their punishment should not wait five years for the death sentence. I agree with Mencken's statement "it may be accomplished, I believe in two hours quite as comfortable as in two years." God can forgive the person in a second and "forgive a whole herd of murderers in a millionth of a second." There are oblivious faults in the justice system; there are many innocent people on death row. Sacrifices are necessary in order to weed out the corrupted from the state, nation, and world.
Mencken is in favor of the capital punishment, which is agreed. The death penalty described as katharsis, which allows others to vent emotions healthy. The job of a hangman is unpleasant as well as soldiers, garbageman, sandhog, priests, and others because no one has a faultless job. Individuals awaiting their death sentence should not wait 5 years or more in prison for the execution date. Criminals should not be torture by their death sentence because most would like to be free of their misery. God does not take 20 years to forgive a person, unlike a human; he can forgive the person in 20 seconds.
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