What Is a Life Worth?

There are days when one news story dominates the day, and then there are days when one news story trumps the other important stories, which by themselves, would dominate an otherwise quiet news day. Wednesday was such a day.

First, there was the ongoing Benghazi Hearings in the Congress. Three witnesses came forward to contradict the Obama Administration's narrative of the events of September 11, 2012. To be sure, this will not be the last hearing on this matter. And chances are, senior administration officials, both past and present, will be subpoenaed to "clarify" statements made previously during the various investigations.

Next, the Cleveland kidnapping of three girls found on Monday after 10 years would be a dominating story. The fact that the prosecutor announced that only one of the brothers will be accused and indicted was news by itself. But this story, too, will wait for another day.

Then, the Gosnell abortion case, which has dominated the news of late, would be a case we would follow since the jury is deliberating the evidence. But, alas, the jury was sent home around 4pm for the day since no verdict was reached. Tomorrow, of course, will be here soon enough.

Finally, the jury deliberating the Jodi Arias case, came to a verdict at around 445pm ET, and found Ms Arias guilty of first degree murder. The penalty phase will begin tomorrow, and the choices are life without parole or death.

Vengeance is a human emotion that lies deep within our DNA, and because of our different nature from other animals and primates, we alone as a species can feel the need to obtain our revenge when we decide an injustice has been perpetrated.

Immediately, our barbaric instinct is to call for the death of the guilty one, since  this satisfies our need for instant gratification. Since Ms Arias killed her boyfriend, some would feel that the punishment fits the crime. Perhaps.

But to me, the greater punishment would be life without parole in solitary confinement. As a social species, we yearn for, desire, insist upon intervention with others, as it brings joy and comfort to our souls. Being deprived of that human contact is more painful to our psyche than knowing we could be put to death.

The death penalty today is humane and physically painless, with injection rather than hanging or electrocution as the means of finality. Basically, you go to sleep and never wake up. And don't live  a life of regret for your crime against another human being.

Jodi Arias was found guilty of a horrible crime, depriving Travis Alexander of his life and the love his family members felt from his presence in their lives. They will forever be living with a sense of loss and sadness, with varying degrees of remorse and sorrow. Her punishment should be as severe.

The jury should find for life without parole for Jodi Arias. Then she would know the pain and agony Travis' family feels today. Knowing that her life could be spent in a prison cell has to be as painful to her psyche as much as it is to Travis' family.

Let's hope so.