Saddam: A human sacrifice
On meeting a young Muslim in east Belfast today, I wished him "Eid mubarak". We talked about whether the execution of Saddam Hussein has dishonoured Eid. He assured me it had not. This, he said, was the perfect day for a "human sacrifice", and Saddam an appropriate offering. He expressed surprise that so many of us in the West should regard the manner of Saddam's execution as "demeaning" or "tawdry".
Christopher Hitchens has a .
Comments
It never occurred to me that Christopher Hitchens might be Muslim. Hmmm, interesting.
very funny mark. you'd have been hilarious at the execution.
I have to confess that I didn't click on William's link and I read his blog entry entirely incorrectly. It did seem incongruous for a lot of reasons. I've seen Christopher Hitchins many times on American televison including one of his debates with George Holloway.
I've got to disagree with Hitchens this time. Saddam Hussein had his day in court, he had his chance to face some of his accusers, he had his chance to present a defense, and he lost. Had he been tried for every one of the crimes he was alleged to have committed (and did commit without a shadow of a doubt) he would have died in jail of old age. No matter which ones they tried him for, there would have been a mountain of others with victims just as outraged and demanding to be heard at trial.
As for the execution, I think that has been blown way out of proportion. Of the countless executions carried out all over the world for millenia, the overwhelming majority were every bit as brutal and horrific. As I see it, one of the problems with the death penalty as a deterrant as it exists today is that it has been so sanitized by us here in the US that it no longer carries the horror it should. A secret procedure in a windowless room out of the sight of all eyes except for a few, an injection is administered, the criminal falls asleep, and a few minutes later he is pronounced dead. Then there is a terse announcement to the press and that's the end of it.
An unrepentent psychopath who was responsible for the murder of one million people and the torture of countless others had a few unpleasant moments just before his execution where he was shown less dignity and respect than he would have liked. Why on earth does anyone care? Will I hear a litany of sentimental nonsense about how the lack of dignity and respect for any human life diminshes us all? Sorry I don't buy it, this execution puts to rest any possibility that he will ever escape to stage a comeback and assume power again. Napoleon might have said, "able was I ere I saw Elba" but Saddam Hussein will never utter another word. Good riddance.
I second post 3, and I'm sure it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that the Muslim William met on the street would appear to agree.