I think that what is most shocking here is that Breivik may escape capital punishment. Norway has not suffered such a high number of casualties since World War 2, over 60 years ago, and such violence is unheard of there. In 1988 Norway agreed to abolish capital punishment during peacetime. However, I sincerely hope that an exception will be made here. Can someone who has killed 69 people simply get a jail term? I think that there is a definite lack of logic there. It would be an injustice to those killed, as well as to their relatives, to let Breivik off.
I think that this also highlights the importance of not taking peace for granted. Norway is an extremely peaceful country, and after so long without conflict, many Norwegians took the peace they enjoyed for granted. Breivik managed to pull off 2 terrorist attacks in 1 day without being caught. I was stunned to read that he managed to plant a bomb outside government buildings, killing 8 people.
However, I was dumbfounded at his motive for ending the lives of so many people: to prevent Muslims from taking over Europe. I failed to see the connection between his motive and his actions. How does opening fire on a youth camp prevent Muslims from coming to Europe? I feel that his Islamophobia is completely irrational, considering one of his childhood friends was Muslim. There is nothing different between a Muslim and anyone else.
I feel that the Oslo attacks could definitely have been avoided, and it is a great tragedy that it occured.
2 comments:
Dear Kenneth:
I agree with what you said and all.
However, I would like to tell you my stand: Anders Behring Breiviek is simply another terrorist. The only thing that makes him stand out is that he is a "christian terrorist" against Islam, unlike so many of the big names we hear, such as Osama Bin Laden, who is an Islamic terrorist.
You say you failed to see the connection between his motive and his actions. How does opening fire on a youth camp prevent Muslims from coming to Europe? I say to you: the idea of terrorism, in the first place, is to create as much "terror" as possible in a peaceful society, as a form of threat, just so they can what they want.
Lam Wen Hong (16) 2i1
I guess this reinforces why punishment is still important, and that rehabilitation should not overwrite punishment for crimes.
In fact, Breivik already expected the jail term. He dared to carry out his act, knowing that he will only just get a jail term. He willingly admitted to his crimes. He expected a jail term, and nothing more.
That is to say, punishment acts as a deterrence. It may not be fair to say that he wouldn't have carried out the attacks if there was capital punishment, for that is an assumption, but we all get the idea. Punishment makes crimes less likely from being committed.
I really think that an exception should be made. If he only gets a jail sentence I am sure that most, if not everyone would feel enraged about it. The law system is dead, but we humans are not. Should we really let this murderer of 69 people off that lightly? I don't think so. And let me explain so that this isn't just something I feel because of my emotions.
The spirit of the law is to rehabilitate the wrong-doers, and prevent them from re-committing the crime. Breivik, even after killing 69 people, still feels he is not in the wrong, and is obviously enjoying how the Norway's law system is going to punish him. I don't think that he will learn his mistake, I don't think so. And keeping him is like keeping a threat close to you. When we release him, can we ensure that he will not commit the crime again?
Therefore I think he should not be let off that easily. If not a death sentence, a life jail sentence.
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