Saturday, December 30, 2006

Saddam Hussein is dead

It's not often that I will make any even vaguely sort of political comment on this blog. I have some opinions that I just have; I can't justify them in most cases and don't really think hard about the arguments. I could be argued down easily by a six-year-old. Or by myself if it comes to that.

But my view is that some things are just wrong.

To play God and kill a man in the name of justice and right is one of these.

Yes, he was evil; yes, he deserved to be punished; but the death penalty is not the answer.

Having said that I would probably be willing to kill him myself if he had been responsible for the murder of a child of mine. But there is, in my shaky logic, a difference between that (which I still know is wrong) and state execution.

God, the peace on earth that was promised by the angels at the birth of Christ seems a long way off. Let your peace come.

16 comments:

Beth said...

I think I have similar feelings on this like you Liz. Although he is/was a terrible, terrible man to conduct all of these crimes, and we all know how bad he was, let's not forget what he did, but why should I feel just for a few seconds today, a sudden very slight sadness for him being executed?? Bizarre eh?

Anyway lovely, I've worked out how you can view my blog in a bigger sized text/font. If you have a mouse wheel/scroller, just press ctrl key and the scroller up or down, and that will alter the size of the text to suit yourself, depending on the sites you visit. If you don't have a scroller, (as we don't at the mo, it went defunct yesterday), I think some browsers allow you to quickly increase your text size by holding down the CTRL key and pressing the plus key (CTRL +) or decrease it by holding down the CTRL key and pressing the minus key (CTRL -). Though, it doesn't work on mine, Boo hoo!! Just found this out now.

Sorry for long message. Take care, Beth XX

Liz Hinds said...

Ah right, jolly clever that. I'll try it next time.

Anonymous said...

Liz, you feel like lots of other folks in regards to his death. I appreciate the fact that you mentioned that you would have gladly killed him if he was responsible for the death on one of your children. I'm not a very relegious person, but aren't we all considered children of God. What is the difference if he killed one of your children or one of God's. I feel no remorse over his execution and in my heart think he desearved it.

Anonymous said...

In the end he was a man and God was his God too.

Maria said...

First let me say thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope you visit often.

Second I so agree with you. My belief is that we are not hear to judge that's God's job. Sure we can punish.. life in jail no parol.. that can be fun. I am sure alot of people will yell kick and scream at that idea and like you I am sure if he killed someone I love my view might not stand. Definately not an easy choice.

Thanks for making me think!

Be well always and Happy New Year!~M

Anonymous said...

I see the question as less the guilt of the prisoner and more the right to kill the prisoner.

If the measure was simple guilt nearly all of us would be guilty. Many of us have killed in the service of our country or assisted fellow citizens to kill in sanctioned wars by paying for the war, supporting the faction insisting on war or simply by not expressing an opinion on the war. It is all the same.

Who has the right to kill? Consider legitimate defense. If someone attacks family, friends or community, go for it. If someone or something threatens or kills a child nearly every higher animal on the planet from the birds to rodents, wolves to grizzlies, Protestant to Catholic would do their best to savage the aggressor. Logic has nothing to do with it.

Sometimes, well, oftentimes actually, the greatest threat to family, friends or community is government. If anyone doubts just check the higher causes of death in your community and wonder why life is not structured more sanely.

But what it ultimately comes down to is how the rules are written. If the rules are followed anyone may kill. Break the rules and you had best have a lot of luck, a lot of money or be a part of a government, multinational, the nuclear industry or military brass.

In this case the rules were broken and a death penalty only makes it easier for the bastards.

MaryB said...

I'm with you, Liz. While all this was going down last night - it was a minute-by-minute, blow-by-blow account on the news channels - I felt so creepy. Yes, he was a horrible man and should be punished, but letting him rot in prison would've been more fitting than hanging. Hanging! Lord have mercy. The whole thing was ghoulish, like medieval crowds watching beheadings. Ugh. Am I the only one who feels dirty about having this on our hands?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

I totally agree with you, Liz and I think showing the pictures of his final moments, and now, I understand, the entire execution on the net, is utterly sick. I'm with the Vatican on this one.

Anonymous said...

I certainly won't be putting that one in Google, WL - thanks for the warning! I can't say I am surprised - just sickened. We caught the newsreel by accident on the TV bulletin and I could not watch, even with the sound muted. If we weep, God must be inconsolable.

James Higham said...

Yes, my post had similar thoughts. Happy New Year nonetheless.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I'm feeling the same way about this Liz. He was EVIL personified...no doubt; but I'm still not comforable with it. People are executed every day....somewhere...but, we're not aware of it. Seeing someone's last moments all over the newspapers didn't help...no matter who it is. For some reason it just kind of "ooged me out."

Puss-in-Boots said...

Very thoughtful post, Liz. I did not like seeing it plastered all over TV and being shown his last moments. I had turned the TV on just at the wrong time and felt sick.

Yes, he was evil and yes he deserved punishment but his punishment was barbaric! Ok, no more so that what he did, but I just feel that it need not have been publicised the way it was. It brings to mind a feeding frenzy of media - like the sharks and the bait balls of fish...ugh!

Anyway, Liz, a happy New Year to you and yours and I hope you've managed to shake off your dreaded lurgy.

Take care

Shirley said...

I don't wish to express my barely formulated views really, but what I do think is that when they led him to the gallows and he gulped, well after all is said and done he was just a man. Not a monster, a man.
And we killed him.
How does that make us better?

DellaB said...

I have mixed feelings I must say. Not that I agree with the death penalty, or disagree with it - but I do believe that what happens to us is what is meant to happen, and if that is to die by another's hand, in fairness or not, well, then, that's what happens.

I used to mourn for what I call 'the poor babies dying in dirt and starvation' in so many places in the world, while we spend money going to the moon, and creating ever more and more channel fodder so that some countries have hundred of PayTv stations to choose from...

And last night, the fireworks, how many children would THAT money have fed?

Then, some wise person told me "That's their thing, to have this terrible life and death; sure, you can and should have compassion, but at the end of the day, it is God's will for them..".


Sorree .. came in to say HAPPY NEW YEAR LIZ!

and, BTW ...
poker is FUN..
CHOCOLATES are GOOD FOR US..
mobile phones are GOOD too..

enjoy!
:-)
Della

Fabe Tassano said...

I agree with you Liz. There was something very dodgy about the whole thing, and I personally felt the trial lacked legitimacy. In any case, I don't think the episode reflects well on the civilised world.

I also think it's dodgy using one person as a scapegoat for all the horrors committed under a particular regime. It carries the implication that all the people who actually carried out the acts in question are somehow less responsible.

It made me feel sick to see the Sunday papers front pages splattered with it, and it was not a good way to end the year.

Liz Hinds said...

Thank you all for your comments. I think this post beat my previous record for comments and that was when I wrote about bras. An equally important subject!