Death Penalty

          After reading the article "The Death Penalty--Why the Church Speaks a Counterculture Message" I am able to see a whole new side to the death penalty. The true story about Marietta and the courage she had to pray for the man who kidnapped her little was intense and emotional. I honestly believe that I could never have the courage to do what she did. I believe that killing other people is wrong, so that means that I believe killing  a person to teach others that killing is bad is also wrong. I am against the death penalty but I believe if I was in this situation I could not help myself and I know I would want to see that person suffer. I do believe that life in prison without the chance of parole is a better choice because it gives them their whole life to think about what they did wrong and attempt to change their life and get back on the path to living with God. I am a Catholic.  I have strong beliefs and after reading this motivational article it has given me a new aspect to look at the death penalty.
 Reading Marietta story about how she first thought she could kill the man with her own two hands and have a simile on her face to leaning towards God and realizing what God wanted her to do and following it is inspirational. She could have only prayed for her daughter and her safe return home but instead she prayed for the Kidnapper too. When they caught the man and there was the chance at the death penalty as the sentencing she has the courage to say she wanted him to be spared and receive life and mental health. She is very brave and honorable.I look up to her for her courage and I respect her for the choices she made.
   



 The death penalty is a very controversial  topic, everyone seems to have their own opinion about it and they tend to believe that only they are right. There are many different opinions you could be for it, against it , against it except for certain cases and you could be for it expect for certain cases. When I think of the death penalty I think of the precious life that some human is taking, which they have no right to take, because only God can create and take life. Recently the polls have stated that around 75% of people are now in favor of the death penalty. I think that this is a result from the rise in crime rates which cause people to turn to the death penalty as a solution or remedy.  There are many contradicting statistics one states that countries who have eliminated the death penalty showed that there is a lower crime rate while countries with the  death penalty has a rise in the amount of crimes.
     The abolition of the death penalty would cause many different results from sending a message like we do have the power to end the vicious cycle of crimes committed in our world. We have the opportunity to end the cycle of violence. Everyone is made in the image of God so when you murder so one it is like you are murdering God.  It goes against the Islamic belief of God being the Lord of life.  The abolition of the death penalty will cause people to be happy while others to be upset. Why do you think people think it is ok to kill to show that it is wrong to kill? Why do you feel the death penalty is acceptable? Why was the death Penalty created in the first place?
   There are so many different questions when it comes to the death penalty, the main one is if it is moral or not. Also if you are personally against it or personally for it. In order to create a real and  practical answer to these questions you should probably do some research to find out the true statistics and facts and why people are for it and why they are against. This issue does pertain to faith and creates a political statement. Think about your own opinion but remember God is the only one that has the ability to create life and take life.