Argumentative Essay: Time To Assess American Values
Argumentative Essay
On May 4, 1994 Michael Fay, a young American boy, was sentenced to series of canings and jail time for the act of vandalism. The unusual punishment raised several controversial arguments in the US and put the Singaporean justice system in the spotlight. Harsh and oppressive punishments such as caning should not exist in the justice system of any country because s it considered torture and establishes fear in society. In the article “Time to Assess American Values”, by the New York Times, caning is refuted gracefully but on the article “Rough Justice”, by Alejandro Reyes, it is argued that the harsh punishments are useful for keeping order in society. In the article “In Prosperous Singapore, Even the Elite are Nervous about …show more content…
Torture is defined as “the act of inflicting severe pain on”. The act according to the article “Time to Asser American Values”, the punishment “causes permanent scarring”, which outraged Americans everywhere. The US charge’ d’affaires, according to the article “Rough Justice” stated “We see large discrepancy between the offense and the punishment. The cars were not permanently damaged; the paint was removed with thinner. Caning leaves permanent scars. In addition, the accused is a teenager and this is his first offense.” So Michael Fay was paired with a punishment unmatched by his crime, however the Singaporean government is not bothered by this as they group vandalism and rape in the same level as shown in the article “Rough Justice”: “While caning is mandatory in cases of vandalism, rape, and weapons of offense..” The problem with this system is that it places many “criminals” on the same level and thus carries out unfair punishments for some. It doesn’t only punish “criminals” but also “Courageous people who campaign for causes like due process and freedom from torture” as stated in “Time to Asser American Values”, but fail miserable as presented in “Rough Justice” when it is said that “Preventative detention laws allows authorities to lock up suspected criminals without trials.” This type of system discourages people from speaking up and instead obeying like drones which lead officials to “credit their tough laws and harsh penalties” (Rough Justice) for their quiet and “perfect” society. The article “Rough Justice” brings up the point that “even if the judge may feel that you are guilty, he cannot convict you unless the prosecution has proven it.” However America has established that rule to prevent ghastly sentences like the one given to Michael Fay after vandalizing a judge’s car and the sentencing of a bus driver to death for
On May 4, 1994 Michael Fay, a young American boy, was sentenced to series of canings and jail time for the act of vandalism. The unusual punishment raised several controversial arguments in the US and put the Singaporean justice system in the spotlight. Harsh and oppressive punishments such as caning should not exist in the justice system of any country because s it considered torture and establishes fear in society. In the article “Time to Assess American Values”, by the New York Times, caning is refuted gracefully but on the article “Rough Justice”, by Alejandro Reyes, it is argued that the harsh punishments are useful for keeping order in society. In the article “In Prosperous Singapore, Even the Elite are Nervous about …show more content…
Torture is defined as “the act of inflicting severe pain on”. The act according to the article “Time to Asser American Values”, the punishment “causes permanent scarring”, which outraged Americans everywhere. The US charge’ d’affaires, according to the article “Rough Justice” stated “We see large discrepancy between the offense and the punishment. The cars were not permanently damaged; the paint was removed with thinner. Caning leaves permanent scars. In addition, the accused is a teenager and this is his first offense.” So Michael Fay was paired with a punishment unmatched by his crime, however the Singaporean government is not bothered by this as they group vandalism and rape in the same level as shown in the article “Rough Justice”: “While caning is mandatory in cases of vandalism, rape, and weapons of offense..” The problem with this system is that it places many “criminals” on the same level and thus carries out unfair punishments for some. It doesn’t only punish “criminals” but also “Courageous people who campaign for causes like due process and freedom from torture” as stated in “Time to Asser American Values”, but fail miserable as presented in “Rough Justice” when it is said that “Preventative detention laws allows authorities to lock up suspected criminals without trials.” This type of system discourages people from speaking up and instead obeying like drones which lead officials to “credit their tough laws and harsh penalties” (Rough Justice) for their quiet and “perfect” society. The article “Rough Justice” brings up the point that “even if the judge may feel that you are guilty, he cannot convict you unless the prosecution has proven it.” However America has established that rule to prevent ghastly sentences like the one given to Michael Fay after vandalizing a judge’s car and the sentencing of a bus driver to death for