Amendment VIII, Cruel and Unusual Punishment (supreme courts)

Amendment VIII:"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."


 
         What are some key symbols you recognize? Well, obviously the judge, the convict, the ruling? The man sitting in the chair must have committed some kind of crime, or broken a law, and has went to the courtroom to get tried. The judge represents the Supreme Court Justice of the Judicial branch. The man looking to the judge represents ordinary citizens like you and myself. The sentence, some crazy, cruel and odd punishment for anything, three years in the police toilet cubicle?
         This is a great illustrastion of amendment VIII which states:
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." Amendment VIII restricts anyone from the politicial system to inflict cruel or unusual punishment on ANYONE. So the judge in this picture would be breaking the law. How does this relate to modern day? Well, now days, when someone takes an indivisual to court, they want that person to suffer, they want revenge. Amendment VIII verifies that no matter how bad someone has broken the law, only necessary punishment is allowed. Anything else would be breaking the law. As well, when policemen or terroist take people hostage, and perform horrific things on them, (shoot them, burn their fingers, starve them, ect.) it makes me feel better to know that, what they are doing is illegal, and no matter how high of authority they have, they can and will be punished for their actions. Now two out of three times nothing can be done due to lack of evidence, but the thought is what counts.
          How does this make me feel? It comforts me to know, that I still have rights as a citizen against the law. I am all for the law, do not get me wrong, but there are some crooked politicians and authorities of the law, who abuse their power. I am enthused to know that I have just as much of power as they do in a way. I agree 100% with this amendment though, because as I look back on the laws that were passed before my time, I think to myself, " I sure am glad those laws are passed." If the law against lynching would not have been passed just think, today, walking anywhere, you could come across a dead body, lynched body. So I am truly grateful for this restriction.