CITIZEN ALERT v1.139
SADDAM DEAD
And so he came to us for help to kill as many people as he could and weapons we sent him to kill as many people as he could, and when he was finished, we decided that he had committed a crime, and we gave him a fair trial and then promptly killed him to show the world that the killing he did was wrong.
Am I glad Saddam is dead? Nope. He should be in jail. Mankind must be a better example than its weakest link. I found it interesting that even though Saddam did have people like the Vatican calling for a stay of execution I didn't get any e-mails or petitions from any of the anti-death penalty websites that usually go on the rampage when some convicted felon is nearing his end. Where were they? This was their moment. This was a huge spotlight for them. I too share the blame as well; I could have started my own protest, but this is their big gig. I was shocked that they backed away from this like they did.
Am I glad Saddam is dead? Nope. He should be in jail. Mankind must be a better example than its weakest link. I found it interesting that even though Saddam did have people like the Vatican calling for a stay of execution I didn't get any e-mails or petitions from any of the anti-death penalty websites that usually go on the rampage when some convicted felon is nearing his end. Where were they? This was their moment. This was a huge spotlight for them. I too share the blame as well; I could have started my own protest, but this is their big gig. I was shocked that they backed away from this like they did.
posted by Bobot Adrenaline at 1:37 AM
10 Comments:
i don't support the death penalty, but a slight correction may be in order.
WE didn't execute anybody. The Iraqi government and legal system tried Saddam, a courtesy that Saddam never extended the Kurds or anybody else he suspected crossed him.
Of course, we had nothing to do with any of it. ;)
nobody said THAT.
but it's interesting to see who we blame first, isn't it?
I blame who's reponsible first. You talk of the Iraqi government like they are some distant entity completely separate from American influence and controls.
Pepper berry said:
"American influence and controls."
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What Country is beyond American control?
America is thee world super power and wields its influence over many, if not all countries of the world.
In a way I agree with you Pepper. You say you blame those responsible first; by which you are “blaming America” for either building Saddam up or tearing him down. But, let’s look at “responsibility”. If you are driving down the road and see a stranded traveler, do you stop to offer help? Some would say, “I’m late already” or maybe… “It’s not my responsibility he has a flat tire”…. Do you agree? Because I will submit that it IS your responsibility to stop and offer help. You see, responsibility works like this: You see a situation, you have the “ability to respond”…. Ummm, B I N G O…. it’s now “your responsibility”.
I agree that America had the “ability” to respond, however I believe that if we (America) would have stepped in and tried to postpone or stop the execution the Iraqi Government would have look very unfavorably at our efforts. So in a way we (America) passed our “responsibility” over to (what I believe is the rightful owner) the Iraqi Government. Indeed…. In reality the Iraqi Government acted as the responsible party and carried out their will. Whether or not execution is ever a suitable punishment is debatable….. but when it comes to Saddams execution, right or wrong…. It was, as it should be, in the hands of the Iraqi Government.
Anonymous said...
What Country is beyond American control?
Apparently Iran, Iraq and North Korea so far. :)
I must admit your analogy was a little confusing but in the end the point is we never ever turned over responsibility to Iraq.
Saddam was in US custody right up until he was headed to the gallows. And the US government did that knowing Iraq would follow script and produce a guilty verdict and a death penalty because we had set it up that way.
If Iraq suddenly had a change of heart and said, all is forgiven, you can go free Saddam, do you really think we would have said, "well, gosh if that's they way they want it, it's their responsibility". No way, he would have been flown out of the country immediately.
I always blame the puppeteer not the puppets.
pepper said...
Apparently Iran, Iraq and North Korea so far. :)
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I think we're getting "American Control" & "American Influence" confused.
No doubt Iraq is "out of control" and the same could be argued for Iran & North Korea to some degree but, is there any doubt that America has influence over these countries?
I agree my analogy may have been a little confusing.....(I should have had my second cup of coffee first)... you stated we never turned over responsibility to Iraq. That may be true however, it is our goal to do so. Yes Saddam was in American custody but, for the most part, the trial and execution was left up to the Iraqi Government.
Was there a chance that Saddam would be found not guilty.....? Ummmm, not really.... Like it our not, his fate was sealed.
Live by it...... Die by it.
Live by it, die by it???
I refer you to the first line of your first comment.
How can you refute the universal “cosmic law” which is: Live by the sword; die by the sword….. it’s a “karma / common sense” type thing. People like to throw words out there like “compassion” or “humanity” based on some “moral principle” or “feeling” but don’t like to take into consideration that these “moral principles” just might be fabricated.
I personally don’t believe in the death penalty simply because I recognize our infantile knowledge of universal order. I’m not some wacked out spiritualist; I just believe when we (as humans) put ourselves in the position of wielding judgment over who is fit to live or die, we expose our fatal flaw. That fatal flaw being…. When we condemn
Someone to die we sentence them not knowing the ramifications of our actions. We are blind to the so called “justice” we have determined. In other words; we don’t know what happens to a person after they die. If in fact it’s the situation that when you die you’re just dead…period; well in that case life, especially considering we are sentient beings… should be regarded with the highest value and protected at all cost. If on the other hand, there is a spiritual element to our existence which allows us to continue existing in some capacity after death; how can we justify taking another life lest we be judged ourselves. Either way…… I don’t think the “death penalty” makes much sense.
Sorry for the digression. Indeed I do not believe in the death penalty however, as an observer, it’s hard not to recognize that throughout history, those who have chosen to “live by the sword” usually die by it.
Ah! I misunderstood your closing tag there.
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