Execution

10 Pages 2572 Words

Witness to an Execution

At the dawn of the 21st century, the death penalty is considered by most civilized nations as a cruel and inhuman punishment. It has been abolished by 106 nations and 30 countries have abolished it since 1990. However, the death penalty continues to be commonly used throughout the United States. There are three major perspectives in regards to the death penalty; Functionalist, conflict and interactionist perspectives. I hope to show how sociological perspectives are applicable to the issues addresses in the documentary, Witness to an Execution.
God inscribed in stone, before Moses the ten commandments, one of which states that, “thou shall not kill”. An interactionist would argue that it doesn’t say; Well, its all right to kill if that person has committed a capital crime. An inter-actionists may see the symbolism of the death penalty, and see its barbaric and resembles a crucifixion, just laying down. When the inmate is brought in, the gurney resembles a cross. Then the guards will strap them in right arm, left arm, left leg, right leg and then continue with the chest and head straps. This to me symbolizes the nails that were driven in Jesus wrists. At the end, lying there on the gurney, the condemned inmate is given a few moments to say a last few words. Some choose to have the chaplain say a prayer with them or sing a song and others choose to just say farewell and thank you to their loved ones and their friends. The chaplain will put his hand on the inmates knee and give it a squeeze, just to show the inmate that his is there with them and to give them one last gesture of comfort. Finally, the warden takes off his glasses and that is the signal to the executioner to start the lethel injection. As stated in the sound portraits documentary: Witness to an execution, “the first chemical they use is a drug called sodium pentathol and is usually used when you are going to have surgery. ...