The Execution of Capital Punishment (Blog 1)

According to Turgenev, capital punishment in the form of executions and the entire spectacle of the event is dramatic, over the top, and unnecessary.  He conveys his point of view on this social injustice by giving a detailed description of an execution he was invited to attend.  Being up close and personal with Troppman, the man convicted of the crime and receiver of the execution, gave Turgenev new insight on capital punishment.  His tone throughout the piece is disgusted and astounded by the public's joy and also a sense of remorse for the loss of a young life, even for this "guilty" young man.  His tone is also scared and uncomfortable.  The restless hours he spends waiting for the execution to begin are torturous and aggrivating, causing him to write with such anxious language and apathetic diction.  The description of every step towards Troppmans death, like the toiletry of the condemned, adds to the lucid ridiculousness of the punishment.
In the end of section one Turgenev writes that he would relay everything he saw that night as a punishment to himself and as a lesson to others, hoping one "may derive some benefit" from his story.  I believe his purpose in writing this passage was to provide his point of view on capital punishment and a potential argument for someone to use.  He himslef did not intend to argue with anyone on the absolving of executions, though his writing was not unbiased.  He simply want to open peoples' eyes to the absurdness of beheading, the long process in which the condemned must go through, and the grossly excited reaction of the people.  In the last paragraph of his essay he writes, " I will be content and excuse my own misplaceed curiosity if my account supplies a few arguments to those who are in favour of the aboltion of capital punishment or, at least, the abolition of public executions."  Turgenev hopes that what he had to witness that gruesome night would be worth it, if only a little, for someone who could use his account to support their argument to rid the system of executions and seemingly unjust capital punishment.
By describing the rambunctious crowd of people and the entire process Tropmann had to endure before being beheaded provide good evidence as to why this punishment should be reviewed and possibly eliminated.  The publics' reactions were inhumane and wrong, for they created entertainment out of the death of another human being, which clearly goes against most peoples morals.  Getting Tropmann dressed and undressed, trimming his shirt, cutting his hair, these are all petty traditions that have been upheld, for what, the sake of tradition?  The way Turgenev describes it, these traditions have no purpose and take dreadfully long.  He also mentions Tropmann's youth and how unfair it seems to be taking his life in a such a horrible way and at such a young age.  The argument of age can be used to some degree, for they still have much to contribute to the world.  But one could also argue that age does not matter, because the intensity of the crime overrules any age and justice must be served.

Our friend O.J.

The O.J. Simpson trial.  An unprecedented case that changed the way people see law enforcement and the U.S. system of government.  So, in other words, yes, I agree with Albom's argument about the significance of the O.J. trial.  There are many views society and different cultures hold today because of what happened in that court room.  Following the case, there was a surge in the number of people who looked down upon the Police Force, disrespected their ideals, and watched closely when they happened to slip up.  Media now plays a big part in crimes and investigation.  Cop shows and News broadcasts make people feel more connected and aware of whats going on behind the caution tape.  But in truth, they are all huge exaggerations used to pull people in and make the trust in the government and police forces once again.  The O.J. Simpson trial has caused numerous other changes on the way society thinks and feels about our legal system, even today, and thats not likely to change.