anyone see the program?
I thought it was fairly obviously propaganda *against* the death penalty, by assuming the absurd proposition that any sex with someone aged 12 years or younger would be a capital offence (given that this would be statutory rape).
Also, there was some sneaky propaganda in favour of the human rights act and the EU.
For reference, in the UK rape was a capital offence until the 1840s, as was "carnal knowledge" (to use the legal term) of a child under the age of seven. I must admit I'd have retained the second one. But all the same, it doesn't seem like Gary Glitter's crimes, bad as they were, should warrant the death penalty in any reasonable jurisdiction.
Also, what the *hell* is the UK doing re-trying crimes committed abroad, following trial and conviction in those countries? If I were Vietnamese I'd be livid at the monstrously patronising attitude that their prison sentence was somehow inadequate.
And as for juries deciding sentences, don't get me started! UK politicians seem to have an incurable compulsion to ape even the pottiest habits of the US. But then in this film I suspect that was just one more element of the propaganda.
I thought it was fairly obviously propaganda *against* the death penalty, by assuming the absurd proposition that any sex with someone aged 12 years or younger would be a capital offence (given that this would be statutory rape).
Also, there was some sneaky propaganda in favour of the human rights act and the EU.
For reference, in the UK rape was a capital offence until the 1840s, as was "carnal knowledge" (to use the legal term) of a child under the age of seven. I must admit I'd have retained the second one. But all the same, it doesn't seem like Gary Glitter's crimes, bad as they were, should warrant the death penalty in any reasonable jurisdiction.
Also, what the *hell* is the UK doing re-trying crimes committed abroad, following trial and conviction in those countries? If I were Vietnamese I'd be livid at the monstrously patronising attitude that their prison sentence was somehow inadequate.
And as for juries deciding sentences, don't get me started! UK politicians seem to have an incurable compulsion to ape even the pottiest habits of the US. But then in this film I suspect that was just one more element of the propaganda.
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