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Ah, so we're finally at the point of death penalty = justified tyranny of the majority.

i have no strong feelings either way

dogma wrote:Ah, so we're finally at the point of death penalty = justified tyranny of the majority.

I was thinking more along the lines of when the nations view of the 'enemy' differs from the peoples view of the 'enemy'. I don't know how I would actually act when faced with a situation, but if a superior ordered me to gun down civilians (of any race/nation) I would refuse. And if s/he proceeded to do so themselves I'd like to think I'd have the gall to stop them.

I read an interesting (and awful) case which happened in Vietnam. I can't remember the towns name (Din Lao?) but the corporal in charge there personlly killed the entire village. His men did nothing but watch. He was found guilty (after the war, the situation had almost been forgotten). However, President Nixon intervened and (gradually, over time) downgraded his sentence. A man convicted of over 20 murders (including the murder of a 6-month old child) and the likely at least 100, and had been sentenced to life in prison, ended up spending only 5 years confined to his apartment.

Emperors Faithful wrote:
I was thinking more along the lines of when the nations view of the 'enemy' differs from the peoples view of the 'enemy'.

By 'nation' you mean 'state' yes? Nation and people are synonymous.

Emperors Faithful wrote:
I don't know how I would actually act when faced with a situation, but if a superior ordered me to gun down civilians (of any race/nation) I would refuse. And if s/he proceeded to do so themselves I'd like to think I'd have the gall to stop them.

Many people enjoy that thought, but statistics seem to indicate that the opposite is true.

Emperors Faithful wrote:
However, President Nixon intervened and (gradually, over time) downgraded his sentence. A man convicted of over 20 murders (including the murder of a 6-month old child) and the likely at least 100, and had been sentenced to life in prison, ended up spending only 5 years confined to his apartment.

This would be a bad time to point out that Nixon was my favorite President (everyone loves a little Niccolo in their jowls).

That said, he should have been prosecuted. Nationality is not relevant to practicality.

dogma wrote:

Emperors Faithful wrote:
I was thinking more along the lines of when the nations view of the 'enemy' differs from the peoples view of the 'enemy'.

By 'nation' you mean 'state' yes? Nation and people are synonymous.

(Sorry, 'nation' may have been a poor choice of words. I meant Goverment. (And yes I understand that a Govt is supposed to, im most cases, represent the people)

Emperors Faithful wrote:
I don't know how I would actually act when faced with a situation, but if a superior ordered me to gun down civilians (of any race/nation) I would refuse. And if s/he proceeded to do so themselves I'd like to think I'd have the gall to stop them.

Many people enjoy that thought, but statistics seem to indicate that the opposite is true.

Sadly, I have to agree with you. Which is why I said I'd like to think that I was capable of taking such a large leap of faith and being a man. But, as you can see, it's never going to be a black and white situation.

Emperors Faithful wrote:
However, President Nixon intervened and (gradually, over time) downgraded his sentence. A man convicted of over 20 murders (including the murder of a 6-month old child) and the likely at least 100, and had been sentenced to life in prison, ended up spending only 5 years confined to his apartment.

This would be a bad time to point out that Nixon was my favorite President (everyone loves a little Niccolo in their jowls).

That said, he should have been prosecuted. Nationality is not relevant to practicality.

But I don't understand WHY Nixon pardoned him.

(Who IMHO is a douche. )

(How long before they make an Obama one? )

This would be a bad time to point out that Nixon was my favorite President (everyone loves a little Niccolo in their jowls).

I knew there was a reason I didn't trust you.