[Paleopsych] death penalty and ritual media sacrifice

[Michael Christopher]

>>Not too many years ago in America executions (and
lynchings) were conducted as festivals, which means
that our dark side like to see people die violently.<<

--Not so different now. We sacrifice evildoers in the
media with a ritual process of assimilation and
purification. There's a gallery of people applauding,
jeering, spitting accusations and so on. And, as ever,
there is no accountability for the audience. Everyone
was there, everyone was watching, so nobody feels
guilty. After all, I wasn't the one who cheered. Or
maybe I did, but I wasn't the one who pulled the
switch. Or maybe I did, but that's my job. And so on.
Moral accountability falls away, which is one of the
reasons I'm suspect about the death penalty's
effectiveness or ethics. If nobody alone wants to be
responsible for an act, if the burden is carried by
dozens, or millions, none with much reason to fear
consequences of a wrong decision, can it really be
assumed that it's a positive moral act, and not a
pagan ritual dressed in monotheistic rationalizations?

Michael



	
		
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