Science

Sometimes my scientific knowledge is admittedly inadequate, and I am sorry for it, in all sense of the word. I am sorry because I have missed out on the wonderful repository of scientific knowledge that has defined,shaped and transformed the World for the past centuries. I am thankful for everything that I have today, for all this would not have been possible wihout scientific advancement.

The sheer incandescent brilliance of our scientific predeccessors is arguably unparalled and incontrovertibly breathtaking. As much as I marvel at the intricate wonders of nature and the environment, I hold my breath with just as much awe and trepidation at the millions of advancements made possible by Science. I am thankful, truly, because Mankind is ensconced safely on the net of new medical technology and Science. Millions of illnesses and diseases, of which treatment is nearly unthinkable centuries ago, are now open to new cures and remedies. DNA advancement has made a breakthrough in forensic science, allowing Scientist to solve highly complicated criminal cases with greater efficacy and precision.

And here I shall bring in the main topic of discussion. Recently, a convict was exonerated due to new DNA evidence after 16 painful years in the prison, convicted wrongfully of rape and murder.

Firstly, wihout Sciences, is it possible that he might just be stranded in that squalor for his entire life? Highly probable

2nd, does this introduce some really tricky questions to the sanction of the death penalty? Yes.

Death is a be all and end all situation. Sometimes cases like this points to us so dearly that we are but human beings. Imperfect human beings that are just as capable of making mistakes as one another.Death penalty cases are usually highly controversial and very tricky. And we can never rule out the possibility that somewhere down the road (10 , 20 years?) new evidences or even new scientific technology might actually prove the innocence of the convicted. One might argue that robbing 10 full years from an innocent person is cruel and ludicrous, but how about when you rob an innocent person of his life? 10 years worth of life might be hard to compensate, both in the material or non material sense, but life itself?

A person' life, whether a murder or not, wihout guilty or not, is not up to us to manipulate. It is precisely the kind of mistakes, that once committed fills us with despair and regret, and that can never be atoned, let aloned reversed or salvaged, that is driving us to question the need and the validity of a death penalty.