Philip Hart wrote: >> 1. Backward nations have not yet abandoned the barbaric practice of >> capital punishment. > > This is more or less a religious argument - I happen to oppose capital > punishment, but experience shows that such nations are capable of > responsible possesion of nukes. Certainly any definition of "backward" or "higher" is dependent upon personal values. Generally it means "Higher" is like me. "Backward" is values I don't have.