Reflections on a Maturing, Moral Society

Dan Rodricks, from the Baltimore Sun, has written a brilliant editorial, which includes this passage:

If an American ideal is that our society be less violent -- and I think we still want that, right? -- then we can't be authorizing executions.

Period.

Paragraph.

That's the moral burden of calling ours a civilized society.

If we all know and believe that violence begets violence, why do we give it our official approval? The death penalty makes hypocrites of us all.

You can read the entire editorial here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.rodricks28jan28,1,2012226.column?coll=bal-local-storyutil&ctrack=1&cset=true