7. What is an issue that you feel particularly strongly about and why? (Social, political, or economic issues, on any scale be it local or global, or anything else that you feel strongly about)
The abuse of human rights is an issue that can - and always will - readily stir my emotions. I believe that people are inherently good, so the abuse of human rights can feel like betrayal to me. However, because we all have good within us, our wrongdoings are rectifiable. This is the primary reason I fervently oppose the death penalty. When a man kills another, the death penalty merely repeats the process - regardless of whether the law technically allows it, does not mean authority can be exempt from upholding the most basic human rights. The United States is in utter violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - how can that be permitted, nonetheless ignored? Also, it is well known that the crime rate has been far from deferred in spite of the death penalty, so the reason of protecting society is considerably breeched. Life in prison, however, can guarantee a cease to future crimes, particularly if a state opts for life in prison without parole (as NJ and NM have done). I could debate much more against the death penalty, but will save some of my arguments so I can move on to the next issue.
Akin to my opposition of the death penalty is my advocation for prison reform. Both issues are not ones I have been able to sink my teeth into yet, but I hope to seek out grass-roots opportunities in college and beyond. Presently, however, I continue to acquire more and more enlightenment on the management and corruption of the United States Justice System, especially in their handling of so-called Federal Correctional Institutions. I say 'so-called' because I find the correctional aspect of the institution to be quite phony. I will admit that I am biased, as this is an injustice far more than close to my heart; however, any unbiased third party would see the same injustices I do, if only it was exposed to them - there's the rub. Unfortunately many imperfections in present-day society are swept under the carpet, so to speak. The fact that an immense majority of Americans are uninformed that prisoners are denied essential human rights is the reason they persist. My hopes for the future are that I can contribute to a movement that will amend these wrongs and protect the undeniable freedoms that are being compromised.
