IMHO, some of you guys have seriously devalued concepts of the gift of life itself.

Execution more humane? It's not even on the same level. Totally incomparable, because it's plain old "lights out" for the executed criminal. How can one measure a life of imprisonment against oblivion? Apples and oranges.

If that same criminal were alive, he would still have the opportunity (albeit limited by his own actions) to develop himself as a human being. There would still be something to be extracted from his time on this planet.

OK, so what if he doesn't choose to grow and better himself, and remains a savage dog of a man? Well, it largely doesn't matter, because he has been removed from polite society anyway.

Cruel and unusual punishment? I don't think so. Rather, it is an opportunity, whether or not the lifer realises it.