opinion time
after the publicity, i feel compelled to make a comment on the van nguyen execution. the problem is, i really don't have an opinion.
i feel that i've made myself think that way. i have purposedly decided not to form an opinion, bc this type of topic is very sensitive, and quite frankly, who am i to say that my opinion is correct when i know very little on the subject.
there are those who have stated that he should die bc he did the crime. he should have known that there was the death penalty. yes he did the crime, but should he have known abt the death penalty?? i know very little abt drug traficking and the type of punishment is involved in any country, i'm not so sure i knew abt singapore's death penalty, particularly its MUST HANG law. another thing i've considered is that, should he die?? true, the amount of drugs he had on him would have supplied some thousands users, drawing them closer to their deaths - but again, should van nguyen have died?
i have heard that it is rather hypocritical of the australian public, to condemn future terrorists to execution, but demand that van nguyen's life be saved. i suppose in some way that it is possible to see it in this way, HOWEVER, intentionally doing something to KILL others and supplying drugs can be slightly different. if u are desperate enough (or perhaps dumb enough) to smuggle drugs, then perhaps the idea of WHAT THESE DRUGS DO TO OTHER PPL really doesn't sink into your head. whereas, wanting to kill others? that's always there.
of course, this does not make van nguyen's crime excusable. surely, he deserves to be punished. but death?
my opinion, as stated before was never formulated. i just didn't want to have to deal w such a surreal and terrifying idea. perhaps the most terrifying thing abt it is that this is A REAL PERSON who is part of the culture i was born into, and oh yeah WENT TO THE SAME PRIMARY SCHOOL as myself.
to make things worse, he was hanged at 9am melbourne time, friday 2nd december. u know what i was doing at the time? frantically buying backstreet boy concert tickets. again, my opinion doesn't mean a great deal when u know, i'm buying bsb tickets when someone's life is INTENTIONALLY being taken away.
i cannot make an opinion on whether or not he should have been executed. there are yes and no's to that question. there are excellent reasons why he should have and why he shouldn't have been hung. but i can say this. i was very surprised, almost shocked, when a friend blantly stated HE SHOULD HANG and that's the end of discussion. i'm afraid i couldn't be so direct or very certain of such a statement. what i do know is that, if i were in singapore's government's position, purposedly sending a man to he's death bed, not just van nguyen's but others as well, that that very thought would rest on my conscious for life.
my mum cried over the whole incident. not for the boy, but for the mother - bc she can understands the love a mother has for their child and no one wants to see their child go before they do. so what i do know is, yes, u do a crime, yes u should be punished. but myself personally, couldn't make a decision that states this person will DIE. i couldn't take away someone's life just bc it was in the rule books.
some ppl said that he should die bc it was the rules and so be it. question is, should u be in the same position, would u so balantly accept that u will be hanged bc u broke the rules? i don't think so. again, i don't actually have an opinion on nguyen's case overall, but i do believe that i myself could ever condemn someone to their death. and it isn't even just bc that person deserves to live. its more, what ever will my conscious do to me?
days go on and we will forget this case. but the family, will continue to be in pain. i pray that they make it through and grow stronger. i pray that somewhere out there, someone learns van nguyen's lesson.
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