Tag: justice

Death to the death penalty

Posted on by kathiemm

October 10 is World Day Against the Death Penalty, launched by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty in 2003.

Every year since 1997, first through an initiative from Italy and then from efforts of the European Union, the United Nations Commission of Human Rights (UNCHR) has approved a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions. The ultimate goal is an international ban on capital punishment.

In its 2007 resolution (62/149), the United Nations General Assembly, appealing to the General Charter,  the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reminded the world of the following points:

  • the death penalty undermines human dignity
  • a moratorium on use of the death penalty contributes to the development of Human Rights
  • there is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty has any deterrent value
  • any miscarriage or failure of justice in use of the death penalty is irreversible and irreparable.

Amnesty  International also takes on the death penalty, calling it  “the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state.”

As indicated in the Amnesty International 2012 video at the beginning of this post, support for a moratorium has  increased, but the United States joined such countries as China, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Zimbabwe in opposing the non-binding moratorium resolution in the General Assembly’s rights committee.

This year, Maryland became the 18th U.S. state to abolish the death penalty.

Time for more states to join the odyssey.

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

Blind justice–or blind to justice?

Posted on by kathiemm

Americans are expected to pledge allegiance to a flag that symbolizes “liberty and justice for all.” But, as one of our readers asked recently, “What is justice?”

One common distinction is between retributive justice and restorative justice:

Retributive justice:

  • Focuses on punishment for perceived transgressions
  • Is imposed unilaterally on a weaker party by a stronger party
  • Argues that the severity of the punishment should be proportional to the severity of the offense—e.g., an eye for an eye
  • Is viewed as having a strong basis in Western values, particularly those of men

Restorative justice:

  • Rejects the notion that punishment of an offender adequately restores justice
  • Views transgressions as bilateral or multilateral conflicts involving perpetrators, victims, and their communities
  • Recommends bringing together all parties to exchange stories and move toward apology and forgiveness.

Depending on our family and community values, we are exposed to varying levels of these forms of justice and develop ideas regarding which form is best. For example, in families:

  • Authoritarian parents expect their children to be obedient and to follow strict rules and punish them if they don’t—consistent with retributive justice beliefs
  • Authoritative parents are more democratic, more responsive to their children’s needs and questions, and favor understanding and forgiveness over punishment—consistent with restorative justice beliefs

And in nations:

  • The U.S. incarcerates the largest number of people, including the most women in the world
  • Under Nelson Mandela, South Africa created a Truth and Reconciliation Commission “to enable South Africans to come to terms with their past on a morally accepted basis and to advance the cause of reconciliation.”
  • The video above shows how the Rwandan government has approached the issue of justice in the aftermath of that country’s genocide

Which type of justice is embraced by each society? On what basis is one approach more just than the other? Which do you favor? Why?

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology

Travesties of justice

Posted on by kathiemm

By guest author Dr. Dahlia Wasfi

On August 27, 2012, the US Marine Corps announced “non-judicial administrative punishments” for several Marines who were videotaped urinating on three dead bodies in Afghanistan.

Rachel Corrie crushed by a bulldozer
Rachel Corrie crushed by a bulldozer. Photo by Joe Carr, used under CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Such minor punishments can include “a reprimand, reductions in rank, forfeiting pay, extra duties or being restricted to a military base.” These Marines will not face criminal charges for their deviant behavior which could be considered a war crime.

While the dead victims have often been identified in the media as Taliban fighters, I have not seen any evidence for this allegation or any justification for their deaths.

On August 28, 2012, the travesty of justice continued with an Israeli court’s ruling in the civil lawsuit brought by the family of American activist Rachel Corrie.

Rachel was a member of the International Solidarity Movement in the city of Rafah in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza. With her colleagues on March 16, 2003, she was practicing civil disobedience to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes.

Rachel was crushed to death by two Israeli soldiers commandeering a 60-ton, D9 militarized Caterpillar bulldozer.

This week, the Corrie family’s case charging that the Israeli military was responsible for Rachel’s death was dismissed. As reported by The Guardian, the verdict stated that Israel “could not be held responsible because its army was engaged in a combat operation.”

This ruling blatantly contradicts international humanitarian law that was created to protect civilians during armed conflict.

Rachel’s mother, Cindy Corrie, pursues justice for her daughter and for all human rights defenders and those suffering under oppression. The night before the verdict, she said:  “Craig [Rachel’s father] and I have been so blessed because Rachel gave us this opportunity to focus here. There’s no end to the work that can be done around this issue, and other peace and justice issues.…”

Since justice is lacking from the institutions created to serve it, we must continue our work on whatever issues are dearest to our hearts.

As long as we are without justice, we will be without peace.

For more information on Rachel and the Corries’ work, please visit:

Dahlia Wasfi

How many deaths will it take?

Posted on by kathiemm

“How many deaths will it take?” In how many places within the United States and abroad?

Aurora, Colorado? Tucson, Arizona? Virginia Tech? Columbine? The University of Texas tower?

Nagasaki? Korea? Vietnam? Grenada? Panama? Iraq? Afghanistan? Pakistan?

NRA headquarters
NRA headquarters. Photo by Bjoertvedt, used under CC Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

The answer, my friend, according to the corporate media, is that the number of deaths and injuries inflicted on Americans by Americans will grow without end because the National Rifle Association owns the government.

Another answer is that the number of deaths–mostly civilians–that Americans inflict around the world will grow without end because of

  • Fear promoted by the power structure
  • Glorification of violence in the media
  • National enthrallment with punishment, and
  • Belief in American exceptionalism to be defended at all costs.

How many roads must people walk down before they will choose civility and discourse over violence? Peace over war? Justice over guns? Humanity over profits?

For people who profit from the weapons business and gain power from manipulating fear, the rewards for making weapons available to individuals, groups, and nations far outweigh the costs.

According to The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in 2010, Lockheed Martin, the biggest arms producer and military service company in the world, grossed $35.7 billion from arms sales.

Among the 100 top arms producers, 44 US-based companies accounted for over 60% of all arms sales (The Guardian DataBlog, March 2, 2012). Those are powerful incentives for pretending not to see all the gun-related deaths.

The NRA receives millions of dollars from online sales of ammunition and related products, as well as enormous donations from Smith & Wesson (manufacturer of the M&P15 assault rifle used in Colorado). Those are powerful incentives for not hearing the cries of victims and their families.

And what does the ready availability of weapons do for ordinary Americans? Among 23 high-income countries, 80 percent of all gun deaths and 87 percent of all gun deaths of children younger than 15 occur in the United States. (See Children’s Defense Fund report.)

If you are appalled by the loss of life, become an activist. To learn more about gun control, the NRA, and ways of promoting change, check out the following resources:

Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology