Caning in Singapore--- Just punishment or not?

Apr 8 07:18 UTC 1994

       Michael Faye was convicted in Singapore of vandalising cars with
spray paint. His sentence is 6 lashes with a cane.

 Do you think that the sentence should be carried out? 

If not, why not?

response 2 of 47:

Apr 9 01:24 UTC 1994

   He did the crimes, & deserves the punishment which the idependent nation
of Singapore has determined to be appropriate.

   The U.S> media has had a field day focusing on the strict laws of 
Singapore, but they don't seem to put much effort into showing that 
Singapore is a relatively clean, law-abiding society.


        After this little miscreant gets his whupping, he'll just come back
to the U.S. & make a few hundred thousand (or million) dollars marketing his
story, ala Nancy Kerrigan.

response 4 of 47:

Apr 13 23:58 UTC 1994

Singapore may be a law abiding society, but does that make it just?  Hitler
used a similar argument to erradicate the Jews.  He felt that Jews were
somehow responsible for most crime in Germany and Austria, and so genocide
was called for.  Not that this wass the only reason...But America does not
need such savage mentality!

response 6 of 47:

Apr 14 03:26 UTC 1994

 If the Jews in Germany went around throwing eggs at cars, spraypainting
cars, & stealing street signs, ethy should have been whupped with a cane
too.   But they didn't.   There's plenty of "savage mentality" in America --
don't you read the newspapers?  

        I'd rather have the 'savage mentality' be responsible for REDUCING
the amount of crime (like Singapore) instead of 'savage mentality' causing
crime, like here in the U.S.A.

response 8 of 47:

Apr 14 19:54 UTC 1994

I have never heard of any one commiting a crime for profit.  The savage
mentality refered to should not be put to use anywhere, instead why not
eliminate it?  I am not saying Jews did any of those things, only that
it was part of Hitler's argument.

response 10 of 47:

Apr 14 21:44 UTC 1994

NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE COMMITTING CRIME FOR PROFIT?!?

..sure, right, uh-huh.

response 12 of 47:

Apr 15 04:14 UTC 1994

 Thanks for the clarification -- it makes a lot more sense.   I don't think
anyone here has claimed to know of people who committed an incredible
crime, just to make a profit from any publicity resulting from being
caught.
 
   However, there are clearly MANY cases where --in my opinion-- the resulting
media frenzy to get exclusive interviews with the 'suspect' have resulted
in large payments being made, the suspect getting an agent to handle book
& movie offers, etc.

response 14 of 47:

May 3 18:00 UTC 1994

I am opposed to official torture.  Caning in Singapore is clearly torture.

It is also incorrect to assume that harsh punishments there are the reason
for their law-abiding society.  Many countries have brutal punishments yet
crime problems out of control (e.g., Brazil); many other countries treat
offenders without torture yet manage to be clean and safe (e.g., almost
every country in western Europe).

response 16 of 47:

May 4 13:52 UTC 1994

An article in the AA News a few days ago discounts many of the "myths"
about caning.  While it may have been spin control by the Singapor govt.,
they said that the cane is *note* dipped in salt water and that there
are no bits of skin flying around.

response 18 of 47:

May 4 20:36 UTC 1994

re #15: probably due to the casting out of criminals by their society. Am I
        correct in saying that in Singapore, crimes are an embarrassment
        not only to the perpetrator, but to the family as well, and that the
        consequences are farther reaching than the sentence for the crime?

response 20 of 47:

May 5 02:17 UTC 1994

This is rediculous.  Most of you people seem to be good honest and caring
people.  But on this issue you are relentless.  The punk screwed up.  Big
Deal.  So they're gonna whip him publicly.  Big deal.  It IS.  It aint
gonna help the kid out.  It aint gonna help Singapore out.  Where is hte
rehibilitation in this sentence?  Children we whip, and then only occasionally
and with proper explanation.  even then we don't whip kids publically!  This
is nothing more than a fear tactic used by the Singapore government, and I
am appalled that many of you support it.

response 22 of 47:

May 5 19:39 UTC 1994

 For those who still believe in the Bible: "Spare the rod and spoil the child"

 Oh, and according to the news, he got his "whupping" this morning.

I don't, for a minute believe that this is a fear tactic. It is a punishment
nothing more than lopping off a thief's hand in Saudi Arabia is. Mr. Fay is
not above the law, and for that matter none of us are. When we travel to
other places it is expected that we, as decent people follow the law of the
land, no matter how silly it might seem to us. In Saudi Arabia, it is a
(an) insult to drink beer, hence it is banned. As Americans, who as a rule
are big beer swillers, we find that this is silly, but we at least should
honor the laws in a foreign land.

  Michael Fay had no respect for the laws of Singapore, for he was an 
American, and thought that he could pull off American style pranks and
thought that if he got caught, he could expect American style justice.
I don't have one bit of sympathy for this kid, and anyone who does, in 
my opinion is barking up the wrong tree.

response 24 of 47:

May 6 07:52 UTC 1994

 Yes, the whipping is a fear-tactic used by Singapore in an effort to reduce
criminal behavior committed  in Singapore.
 
   I fear getting my butt whipped.  I hope to visit Singapore sometime, and
will do my best to abide by their laws.
 

  Prison sentences is a fear-tactic used by U.S. in an effort to reduce
criminal behavior committed in U.S.

  I fear getting my butt violated. I hope to continue to live in U.S. and
will do my best to abide by our laws.

        Any questions, author of #20?