Friday, July 27, 2007

Rwanda Abolishes the Death Penalty

European Commission welcomes abolition of the death penalty in Rwanda.

read more digg story

This press release touches on several important points. While a majority of countries have abolished capital punishment or have stopped executions by law, the U.S. and a relative handful of countries continue to embrace the practice. The release points out that the end of capital punishment in Rwanda sends a powerful message to the rest of the world given the country's recent history of violence. If a country ravaged by genocide and civil war can bring about a degree of reconciliation in such a short time, what about countries like the United States? What can we learn about our own culture by observing the actions of a country like Rwanda?

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