Forgiveness anyone?

When I read Newsweek's feature "Grace Before Dying", I must admit i was perplexed. I completely understand that dangerous people must be kept behind bars. But what about terminally ill prisoners. Kept behind bars, they perish there and are buried in numbered boxes (according to the magazine).


Of course, one may argue that, well, just because they're dying, their sentences must be revoked. Others may argue that they are provided with the best healthcare facilities and their rights to medical care are not affected in the least....(This of course would mean the U.S, let's just forget what's happening here in Pakistan)


Prisons have been used as far as 2000 B.C.E. What bothers me is the fact that we still don't have a viable alternative to the prison system. And no, crime rates have not improved even if we've managed to keep "dangerous" people off the streets. Turns out each one of us could be a criminal, if provoked, we cannot under any circumstances guarantee "civil" behavior in all situations.

So what should we do? we need prisons, can't pardon the terminally ill, we normal people must be safe, examples must be made of such people so that we behave ourselves....


I'll tell you what I'll do in this case (since I'm all goody-goody) , I'll focus on the good in those inmates who have volunteered to care for their dying prison-mates. And I'll hold on to belief that people can change and that they deserve a second chance...