Steemit Engagement Challenge Season8 Week1: What is the value of life?

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Everyone's life has value…

These are not my words but the opening words of the contest post. Precious words!

I want to start my post today by telling you a story.

In many African countries, even my country South Africa, tap water is not provided to all. So often women and children must walk very long distances to either fetch water from natural resources or government water trucks.

These full water cans or drums are then carried on their heads or shoulders back home. My story is about a mother and daughter who had to perform this task all seven days a week.

Once upon a time, there was a woman who had to fetch water for the need of her household. A task she fulfilled every day without moaning.

Soon her daughter was old enough and she could help her mom with this task.

Each day the two of them would start walking at the crack of dawn, wait in line for hours for the water truck to arrive, and then start the long walk back home. Finally reaching home the mother’s bucket would still be full of water but the little girls would be near empty.

One day the little girl just burst out in tears. Her mom bend down, took her in her arm, and ask her why she was crying. She told her mom that all she wants to do is to help and to be of value but all she does is spill the water.

The mother wiped the tears from her daughter's face and told her that she was of value and that she will show her the next day.

When they started their walk the next day the mother pointed out the beautiful flowers along the path they walk. “Do you see these beautiful flowers?” she asked. “They are there because of the water you spill every day. Every life has its value even yours.”

^{As mentioned by @alanasteemit, a story similar known as the parable of the cracked clay pot in her country.}

That brings me to the contest and the death penalty.

Death penalties are mainly given in three circumstances;

1. Murder
2. Treason
3. Genocide

Many countries and individuals have come up with pros and cons and as long as I can remember there has been a debate about the death penalty, must it be there, or must it not be.

I am going to highlight three of these arguments.

Argument 1

Some believe that the death penalty fits the crime, an eye for an eye. The crime in most cases would be murder. The argument against it is that it is a cruel and unusual punishment.

Argument 2

Then you get those who argue that the death penalty deterrent or restrains people from committing a specific crime. There is no clear evidence that it indeed does.

Argument 3

There is an argument that the death penalty brings closure. The argument against it is that it can never comfort people as it cannot bring a person back. Many are of the viewpoint it is a cruel public display.

What are my thoughts about the death penalty?

There are even arguments in religion about the death penalty. Some Christians believe that God authorized and requires capital punishment like in the case of murder.
On the other hand, the Word also teaches us that each life has a value and it doesn’t give us the right to take it away.

Let’s put the religion and country viewpoint aside and focus on the penalty itself.

On my visit to Australia one of the places I visit was the Old Melbourne Gaol, a former prison and historic site. A visit that changed my outlook on the death penalty.

As we were walking the corridors coming out of prison cells my eye stayed fixed on one element, a noose at the end of a rope.

I just couldn’t take my eyes off it and I couldn’t escape it nor the thick atmosphere from any of the three floors. The hair on my arms stood up most of the time.

In total 133 people were hanged in this prison mostly for murder but also for crimes like attempted murder, rape, and robbery.

Some were guilty but some… were innocent.

Nineteen years after Ronald Ryan's execution for shooting a warden it came to light that he was not the one who pulled the trigger.

He wrote the following words on toilet paper for his daughters;

"With regard to my guilt I say only that I am innocent of intent and have a clear conscience in the matter."

I kept on asking myself, what if it was me or one of my children?

Carl Buntion, a 78-year-old man's last words; "I wanted the Irby family to know one thing; I do have remorse for what I did." (2022)

Kosoul Chanthakoummane's last words, "To Mrs. Walker's family, I pray that my death will bring them peace," (2022)

Why can we not forgive someone who shows remorse?

There should not be a death penalty.

For me, it discriminates as each one of us has the right to life, it is a weapon in the hands of authorities, and there is always the risk of putting an innocent person to death.

It can be a mistake that cannot be undone but that can be forgiven.

Besides, a greater verdict is awaiting the person on the other side.

What are my country's thoughts about the death penalty?

The death penalty in South Africa was mainly performed by hanging.

1910 - As a British Colony South Africa followed the UK and its stands regarding the death penalty.

1961 - When South Africa became a Republic in 1961 the death penalty via hanging was maintained but there was huge criticism worldwide for political execution. These were mainly for anti-apartheid activists who were convicted. Later these punishments were changed from the death penalty to life imprisonment.

1987 – South Africa had the highest number of death penalties in the world, with 164

1989 - Saw the last hangings for crimes in South Africa, both for males and females.

1990 – The death penalty was temporarily prohibited

1995 – We saw the the death penalty being abolished

Recently the call for the death penalty is rising with several political parties supporting it.

The crime rate in South Africa is increasing. Just last week the South African Police Service published the latest crime stats showing an average of 82 murders daily, 7.555 per hour.

This is an alarming increase from 57 per day in 2018.

South Africans are tired of crime, especially of murders and gender violence. Vigilante 'justice' is on the rise which is not a good sign.

Will we see the death penalty again?

“Our constitution has enshrined the right to life. This means that the state should not be the one to terminate a life. The surge in criminality should be addressed in other ways rather than ending people’s lives,” according to our President Mr. Ramaphosa.

The case of Daisy de Melker

“Daisy is coming for you!”

These are the word moms in South Africa often tell their children when they are naughty.

Daisy Louisa C. de Melker or Daisy de Melker as we know her has a scary face. Such a face that it will make any child sit still, especially during a church service.

Daisy was accused of poisoning her two husbands for their insurance money. She had five children of which four die and the fifth she murdered, her son.

Can you now understand why children are all ears when you tell them that Daisy is coming for them?

After suspicion was raised by the brother of her late husband the court ordered that the bodies could be unearthed. The bodies were badly decomposed but traces of pink strychnine was found. The toxicologist could however not find clear evidence that the men died because of poisoning. As for her son, it was a totally different story.

There were clear signs of arsenic not only on the body but also on the flask the police found. The pharmacist from who she bought the poison recognized her face when it was published in the newspaper and he informed the police that she was the “Mrs. Sproat” who signed for the poison register. According to her, she bought poison for a cat that was sick. What was also suspicious was the fact that she traveled a long distance to buy the arsenic.

The public was so interested in the trial that they queued outside the court for hours to ensure a place in court. Once inside they sold their seats for 30 USD which was a lot of money at the time.

The judge found her guilty. When he asked her if she had anything to say she said; “I am not guilty of poisoning my son.”

Daisy received the death penalty and was hung on 30 December 1932.

Everyone's life has value… a husband’s... a son’s… even yours.

^{All images of Old Melbourne Gaol is my own.}

I invite @damithudaya, @rey01v, @waqarahmadshah, and @jesusjacr as I am curios to know there viewpoint.

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