What is the real meaning behind Mercy?

  

  The word mercy is a relatively large part of our lives. Whether it's getting 'Mercy-Ruled', or 'showing mercy', or 'University of Detroit Mercy', we can't seem to escape mercy. But what does it actually mean?
The dictionary defines Mercy as: compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. So yes, mercy means to forgive, or to show compassion, instead of harming someone. Makes sense. But why is it, that people do not always show mercy? The concepts of kindness, compassion and forgiveness have been a staple of how society raises us. In kindergarten, we all enjoyed those warm, fuzzy books about the little rabbit who made friends with a dog, or the mouse who made friends with the lion. Children that show forgiveness, and kindness are rewarded. But why do these ideals not hold through? Much like the communist ideal of 'sharing is caring', the idea of mercy does not carry forth into a person's adult years. 

    This lack of mercy, is evidenced by brutality across the world. Whether it be in the form of the death penalty, brutal attacks by governments on their own people, or even a cop kneeling on a person's throat for 7 minutes, the concept of mercy fades as time goes by. But why? It can't be a cultural thing. Almost all cultures and religions from Christianity to Jainism, preach forgiveness. People often pray for forgiveness from their god, hoping that he will show mercy, and forgive them. But people do not exhibit the mercy that they expect from their god. Take the state of Alabama, for example. They see fit to have “a man [be] electrocuted, burned to death." The very fact that the government wants to hold this Machiavellian grip over their people, holding them in fear of such a brutal fate, is ludicrous. Yes, Machiavelli did argue that it is better to be feared than loved, but people often miss out on his next sentence. "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both." Machiavelli argues that the gratitude from being loved disperses during threats to survival, but there is no major threat to the survival of Americans. Then why is it that they see fit to put forth these Draconian punishments, like electrocution? In Just Mercy, Stevenson argues that the government needn't do this, which is why he creates the Equal Justice Initiative, and fights to stay the executions of death row inmates. In doing so, he shows the world, that there is a better way of running our justice system. By Just showing Mercy.