West More Humane Then Eastern Islamic Nations?

  Flogging, Stoning and amputation are not practices of the West but they are practiced in Islamic nations.  I came across an article  written by Stephen Chapman titled “The Prisoner’s Diemma” (first appeared in the New Republic on March 8, 1980)which gets me thinking about the differences between Eastern Islamic and Western Society.  Do Eastern Islamic Nations look at the west as a society out of control?  Check out what Ayatollah Khomeni said:

•   If the punitive laws of Islam were applied for only one year, all the devastating injustices would be uprooted.  Misdeeds must be punished by the law of retaliation; cut off the hands of the thief; kill the murderers; flog the adulterous woman or man.  Your concerns, your “humanitarian”scruples are more childish then reasonable.  Under the terms of Koranic law, any judge fulfilling the seven requirements (that he have reached puberty, be a believer, know the Koranic laws perfectly, be just, and not be affected by amnesia, or be a bastard, or be the female sex is qualified to be a judge in any type of case.  He can thus judge and dispose of twenty trials in a single day, where’s the Occidental justice may take years to argue them out. – from sayings of the Ayatollah Khomeni (Bantam Books)

 So there is so many things we can look at here.  As a Western person the first thing I say is “Wow’ racism you have to be a man to be a judge and woman are put in the same category as people with amnesia!” I digress!  Is cutting off someones hand for robbery a good way of teaching a lesson?  Although barbaric it is probably effective.  After two robberies I don’t see any more robbery offensives occurring.  

   Another good point in this article is that the West takes amusement of life in modern West with their observance of barbaric rituals  of countries that are attached to the customs of the dark ages.  Even Pakistan our friendly ally (maybe not for long with the President stepping down)  flogs lawbreakers in public.  Up to 10,000 people gather to watch this barbaric ritual.  How can this be entertainment? Would it be wrong to sell sausage and peppers at these events?  Always thinking of ways to make money.  Seriously what about a few hot dog carts?

  As living in a much more advanced society then these dark age countries we turn to Capital Punishment is some states.  We don’t hang anyone anymore like the barbaric ages we inject our bad people with a cocktail of drugs to put someone to sleep and stop the heart.  What about the people who gather to watch behind the glass as the evil doer takes his or her last breathe?  Is that barbaric?  Hey at least we are not seeing a head get half ripped off right?

  What about the conditions of some of are over crowded prisons.  Is a six by six foot cell with 4 prisoners in it cruel and unusual punishments or do those villains deserve it? Do these evil doers deserve great medical and dental care?  Do they deserve to hang out and play cards, workout and drug up while I am paying their stays in a minimum security prison?  What about just lopping off the hand of a robber instead of letting him go back to the country club? I don’t digress…