This is actually amazing to me.
Our justice system should take a memo...the full number of cases against him have not even cleared the courts, but having been found guilty (big surprise), he has now met his just fate.
God have mercy on him. I only wish we had been able to administer similar justice to other prolific tyrants. I cannot guess what this will mean in the days ahead...but I had not expected this to happen so quickly.
At times like these, the obvious question we must ask ourselves is whether or not justice was actually served by yet another death. There are plenty of people in the world that consider the execution of this man to be, not justice, but actually a further action of barbarism. They argue that we have out-grown the death penalty, and that life-imprisonment if enough to satisfy the debt owed by such a monster.
I find these arguments interesting. When did we become so vitally concerned with the nature of the justice done to criminals? Opponents of the death penalty throw up statistics of wrongfully accused criminals sentenced to death...but the numbers they ignore are the vast majority of correctly prosecuted murderers, rapists, kidnappers, etc, that have earned their date with the executioner.
Yet, especially as a Christian, I have to admit that there is a finality to death that is extremely harsh. Should this cause us to pause? Should we fall short of administering the ultimate punishment?
I think not. I think that it's extreme nature is what makes the death penalty important. If criminals know that they can cheat death, whatever they say about the torment of life in prison (and I believe its awful), the cost of one's life is still the only appropriate price a murderer, rapist, kidnapper, etc can pay. It is the government's job to protect us...and for that they must carry a sword. Not just a jail cell...there must be a real threat for those that treat life with contempt.
Sigh. Still, a life has been ended by force, and a man has gone to meet God, and he was (I believe) most assuredly not prepared for that confrontation. Perhaps as a Christian I should regret his wasted life. As a citizen, I rejoice that my government has acted to assert the dominion of justice and order in the world.
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It depresses me that there doesn't seem to be a clear cut solution to this problem, let me explain. Firstly, it seems justifiable to completely let loose and celebrate the death and damnation of such an evil man. As a human, I feel compelled to laugh at his death (in a morbid sorta way). But in the Bible we are commanded to LOVE our enemies. LOVE. Meaning that we'd be willing to lay down our lives for the lives of our enemies. As Christ said, "No greater love than this that a man lay down his life for his......etc." See my problem? On one hand I find it perfectly acceptable to celebrate Saddam's death, but another part of me is really sickened that I would find even an ounce of satisfaction in the death of another human being. I mean, in the long run, we're all just as bad as Saddam, we're all bastards, (this is not frivolous swearing, we ARE bastards in the spiritual sense, go figure) but God loves us anyway. So, how do I reconcile the two?
Mr. Choo
Bas-tards, eh? Heh--Mr Choo, I am shocked.
Well, there are some challenges to your thoughts...the saints in heaven don't seem to feel any pity on the wicked...in fact, they call out to God ton finally administer the justice the wicked have avoided for so long. How does that factor into this? Also, you must ask yourself why, exactly, we execute someone? Is it vengeance? Is it repayment? Is it protection? From what? These are big questions that, I think, directly deal with your frustration.
I think another helpful addition to this discussion is the fact that you, Mr. Choo, are not laying your life down for Mr. Hussein or choosing instead to end his life -- your government is...or in this case, Iraq's government is. This is an important differentiation, because it is one that God set up himself in the Old Testament and in my mind it is the way in which we reconcile the severe justice of the Old Testament, with sacrificial and merciful love of the New Testament.
What do you think?
Hello there - I thought I had commented this already, but it seems to have been lost in cyber space (apologies if you receive it twice!)
You express your opinion with eloquence, and I do appreciate your point of view. However, I can't help but think that murder is wrong regardless. Who are we, as mere humans, to choose who lives and dies? How do we decide who deserves death?
Surely killing someone is murder, regardless of whether we think they deserve it or not!
Anyways, I enjoy reading your thoughts!
Hey, Chris,
Good thoughts. The death penalty still throws me for a loop. I have no idea what I think about it.
I'm wondering, though (since you haven't responded in the best folder on bubbs!), what your thoughts are concerning the timing of his execution, particularly the fact that he won't be tried for genocide against the Kurds, and those left may get the legal slip without his evidence (which apparently was damning, but without it there's not much of a case). I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that in future blog posts...
your loving liberal wacko friend
Rachel,
Glad you enjoyed my thoughts.
With regard to your question, I first suggest that the definition of "murder" needs to be nailed down. If murder is merely anytime one person kills another, regardless of circumstance, then I think we quickly develop some difficulties--for example, if a man were to attack my wife and son and I were to kill him the process of defending them, am I a murderer? Am I the same as the man the stalks women and murders them brutally for pleasure?
If we acknowledge that there is more than one category for those that take the life of another person, then I think we are in a position to begin considering what is going on when the government uses its authority to sanction the killing of a criminal. At that point the discussion becomes much more interesting; I think the first thing we must ask is, what is the role of the government?
Lindsay,
I have been meaning to say something on Bubbs...
My thought is that it was interesting timing. I have talked with some students that think it was entirely politically timed...which might not be far off. But beyond the political timing of the act, I think it was actually a good thing that it happened when it did--in that there was a certain amount of expediency to the action. I am glad the legal system wasn't manipulated to enable him to rot for life...which it might have been if we had delayed.
So, for that reason, I think it was good that they wasted no time in carrying out sentence. He certainly had it coming. I think they should still judge the rest of his alleged crimes, to let the record show the monster he was.
My only regret about the timing of this is that it happened with so little build-up that it almost went by without making an impact in our lives. And that might be good...but how often do we have the chance to see such a man actually pay for his crimes? If there is a benefit to the death penalty, surely it is, at least in part, the fact that the execution of our criminals sends a message to other criminals. Obviously an extreme parallel would be the way the Romans used crucifiction...but I think the idea behind such brutality may have been effective. It sends the clear message...if you behave like this, THIS is what's waiting for you.
I dunno. That probably sounds harsh, what with me drawing parallels to the barbarism of the Romans...but I think the death penalty is necessary, and I think right now we aren't making the use of it that the government should.
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