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Originally Posted by Webby
True Sarah - tho the last time any monarch ordered a beheading was before the US was ever heard of. History obviously was not a strong point 
The UK death penalty was abolished formally in the 60's and the Human Rights Act (1998) adopted the "no death penalty" as part of that treaty - tho most participating countries already had terminated death sentences by that time.
Interesting that the scenario is the reverse in the US where the death penalty was reinstated around 30 years ago and since that time around 1000 people were terminated. As an aside, a friend has been a witness to a few US executions - as case officer in most, but a friend in two. After the numbers of publicised "botched executions", I asked if any of them were botched - but no, they went off relatively peacefully. Also asked if the gutty feeling was that they should all be executed, - generally yes (knew of the exact details of the crime), but in a few instances, definately not - but it's the law. |
You know that I agree about the death penalty but apart from that why should the average American have excessive knowledge of British history beyond that which directly effects American history? Don't get me wrong, I had to learn more British history in high school than most British kids do these days but I guarantee you most British people have very little knowledge of American history ..particularly smaller details. So, I don't get why those Americans that asked you those questions were too out of line. It isn't the same as thinking Paris is in the UK or something.