en a flood of official protests from Canadian state officials, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, the human rights arm of the Organization of American States, even the Vatican, also proved of no avail (Ward). Quoting Diane Clements, a protester in favor of the execution, The message to them tonight is to stay home, dont butt in where you dont have business in Texas (Ward). In this highly controversial event, the dangers of the God-like powers given to the courts under Capital Punishment are evident. Not only could this event have caused an international crisis, but it was an unneeded display of power by the Texas judiciary system. Even though the majority of the states in the U.S., thirty-eight, support Capital Punishment, there is still a strong opposition towards it. Opponents argue that if our prison system were effective, there would be no need for Capital Punishment. Congressmen Mark Price states his views on our prison system: While I do not think that sending a person to rehab will help them always, I do believe that people who once molested, raped, or murdered in cold blood can be healed and brought back to function in this society. The problem is that prison doesnt rehabilitate, it can make the person even more offended and sickened at society and prone to harming themselves or innocent victims. It is not just as simple to supply answers that will work when applied to reality. I think that placing a person in a loving, nurturing environment will eventually bring out the best in them (Pragmatic). As implied by Mark Price, our prison systems are doing an ineffective job of rehabilitation, and dont supply the kind of environment that encourages change. This problem is seemingly endless though. The penal system of the United States, and Texas in particular is already extremely overcrowded, and a positive environment cant be produced without individual attention. Yet, the reform of prisons is perhaps the key t...
