An issue that has received a substantial amount of interest in the media lately is that of a Melbournian man who got caught attempting to smuggle drugs into
Oh well, apparently this guy's lawyers have been trying to get garner support here in Australia to appeal for leniency from the Singapore's High Commission and spare him from the death penalty. A couple of days ago friends of the man held a press conference to launch an "Outline your palm" campaign, reaching out to the general public to draw an outline of their palms in support of sparing Nguyen Van Truong the death penalty and sending him home to serve out a jail sentence. Apparently they are trying to get John Howard to outline his palm as well. According to their statements, Nguyen when visited by his mother, placed his palm on the glass window which separates inmates from their visitors and asked his mother to hold him. Aww.. so touching....so poor...
LIKE FREAKING REAL!!!
What the hell is he thinking of smuggling drugs into
You engage in drug trafficking, you pay the penalty.
To quote an Australian premier, "We do not believe in the death penalty".
Riiigghhtt........ So?
Just because Australia doesn't believe in the death penalty, Australian traffickers all around the world should be set free and sent home to serve their jail sentence in Australian jails chalets? What a joke. His family and friends say that he is very sorry and hope that we can find it in our hearts to spare him the death penalty. Aww… but how about the thousands of lives he could have endangered had he not been caught? Who is going to say sorry to them? So what did he expect trying to smuggle drugs into Singapore? A slap on the wrist and being told "You had been a very naughty boy?" This isn't Supernanny. This is real life. One man’s actions could have endangered thousands. You are sad that he is going to be hanged? What about the thousands who will potentially get hooked on the drugs? What about their family and friends? What are they going to do when they come home high and beat up their wives, parents, children to get money to buy these drugs for a quick-fix? If he is capable of disrespecting so many other lives,
We are talking about freaking drugs here!! Which part of drugs kills don’t these people understand? God gave us our health not for us to destroy it by taking drugs. Ok, you can argue we shouldn’t be drinking or smoking also but it is a totally different matter. One shot of heroin is enough to get a previously non-drug abuser to be addicted but one drink won’t be enough to get a non-drinker to turn into an alcoholic. Well, most of the time.
Anyway, why can’t these people respect our laws? Instead of pleading for mercy after breaking our laws, why don’t they try NOT breaking our laws in the first place?! Dumb idiots (wanted to use a stronger word here, but I shall not be vulgar). What is it with all these drug traffickers in the first place? Over the last year, there had been the
I’m too pissed to continue.
posted by Jansen at 04:45
6 Comments:
Laws obviously matter more to you than lives, which is a terribly sad thing. Easy for you to speak when you're not in that boy's position, so easy to say 'I would never break a law'.
Your link to 'Our Daily Bread' suggests that you're a Christian, but your attitude is patently un-Christian. Jesus himself quotes the prophet Hosea: "But go you and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'" (Matt 9:13). Elsewhere, he teaches his disciples and followers to forgive, forgive, forgive (Matt 18:21, Luke 17:4). How can you call yourself a Christian when your values are so bloodthirsty and unforgiving???
Well, forgiveness is one thing, being responsible for your actions is another thing. I never said that I would not break a law. I might break a law in the future, I might not. Whatever the case if I'm dumb enough to knowingly break a law, I will take whatever punishment handed out to me. Yes it is easy to say, but it's also easy to prevent yourself being put in that situation.
Laws are there for a reason. They serve as a deterent. If laws are easily bent, there will be social chaos. Laws will not be abided by. Laws of other countries won't be abided by since it only takes some overseas pressure and the criminals will be set free.
What kind of example would it be to other drug smugglers if Singapore were to let this man go? Find an Australian to smuggle the drugs, and Singapore will let them free. It's simply opening a can of worms. Are we supposed to "show mercy" to every drug trafficker we encounter?
By the way, do leave your names. There is no need to hide behind anonymity.
hi Jansen, it seems to me you're confusing two issues. One is the issue of sovereignty - should Australia be allowed impose its will on Singapore, for example. The other is the broader, more vital issue of whether a state should execute people at all. Your arguments revolve around sovereignty - 'these are our laws, you mess with them, you pay' - but you don't really seem to think very much about whether a state ought to kill. Wasn't it one of the 10 Commandments? "Thou shall not kill". It can't get plainer than that, imo.
Thanks for your comments, Dominic.
Yes, I am more concerned about the issue of sovereignty. That is the main issue that I am bothered about. I do not see the logic in countries trying to impose their views on other countries. To me, it is a very disrespectful act towards that country. Just because one country's views differ from another does not mean that either of the countries' views are wrong.
True, the Bible teaches us not to kill. Whether the the death penalty should be allowed, or not, is debatable till the cows come home. Unfortunately, it seems to work as a deterent. The fact of the matter now is - Singaporean law has death penalty. To change the law now would seriously undermine all the past sentencings. What makes this one individual so special such that a country should change is laws just to protect him? Please remember that drug trafficking is a very serious crime. It isn't petty theft.
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