Saddam Hussein is no more.
There is one thing that really sticks in my mind about Hussein. I saw a film clip that was from the late ’60s shortly after the Baath seized power and Hussein was in charge of internal security. In the clip, there was an auditorium filled with public officials. One at a time the officials names were called and they were taken into a corridor and executed. Originally this event was televised as a warning and show of power. The faces of these people, about to be killed, were horrifying. It was very much like seeing the photos of prisoners that the Khmer Rouge took before execution.
As I don’t have a T.V. I usually get my news from the net and, I also listen to the radio some. I must admit some surprise at the mixed reactions to Hussein’s demise that I am hearing. If someone is opposed to the death penalty, I respect their point of view and understand it. Most of the criticism from other nations seems to center around the idea that the execution of Hussein will not bring an end to violence in Iraq. I think that the true issues are should, and, how should this man be punished for his crimes. I think that hanging was fitting.
I listened to Radio Havana (normally quick to seize on anything U.S. policy related) last night for a couple of hours and they were strangely silent on the issue.
It’s a heavy topic for sure. Thankfully, I have the ability to separate this stuff from my day to day life. Time to shut up and sing. If you are in the area, come see us at Murphy’s, 218 South Campbell, Springfield, MO tonight. Show starts at 9:00.
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Tags: Saddam Hussein
Jayne d'Arcy wrote,
It’s a pity he can’t be hung multiple times for all the deaths he caused.
Have a great show!
Link | December 30th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
mary wrote,
Yea it’s definately a tough one. I too am surprised at the rections..there seems to be more sympathy, at least for killing him, than one would have thought. Maybe it has somethign to do with him having been a leader.
I am against the death penalty..yes even for the Saddam Husseins’ of this world..especially for the Saddam Husseins’ of this world. We are better than that, or should be. Killing him did nothing..some may ask what keeping im alive would have done. I’m not sure..but now we will never know. Yes, the man was without compassion and humanty..evil even..and he had no apparent conscious…but other than satiate some people’s need for revenge..what has it done. Will the troops get to come back now that he is gone..no. He mearly played second fiddle to Bush’s inbility to catch Bin Laden. There are many other’s waiting to take Husseins’ place. Perhaps we could have learned from him. Education is key..compassion runs hand in hnd with that.
I just don’t know.
What I do know is seeing his face and his execution played out..plastered all over the net..does not touch a place in me that is glad.
On another note..A ver Happy & Healthy New Year to you and yours.
Link | December 31st, 2006 at 11:13 am
Stacey wrote,
Nothing to do with Saddam, but I’ve been away from the blogs for awhile and I love the new look! Very nice. And now I’m off to do some catching up!
Link | January 1st, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Pat wrote,
On April 28 1945, at the Piazzale Loreto in Milan, Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were shot and hanged in a spectacle that was photographed repeatedly. His last words were, “Shoot me in the chest!”
http://www.celebritymorgue.com/benito-mussolini/benito-mussolini.jpg
This comes from the celebrity morgue online… I think it is a win win win triple header situation. Like hanging Hussein, it closes the chapter in public perception, the Devil gets his players’s souls, and I don’t have to see the bad guys on my TV screen anymore.
Go figure, I too am villain to some of the acquaintances I have had! I am sure those some would like me executed. On the other hand have a better chance dying from a mosquito bite, than being hanged.
Eh? in response one year later,,, Saddam was just a banker, like Einstein was just a trolley driver, and like Speaker Tom DeLay was just an exterminator… for me the hanging is a good catholic case to lose weight, and go lightly? <pd
Pat’s last blog post..Faithful and Steadfast — FAST
Link | February 3rd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Pat wrote,
Hi Mary: Re: “Education is key..compassion runs hand in hnd with that. ”
Courses for the Masses
MIT has put its courses on line free to all who access them. I don’t need to write another sentence. http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
Nice to meet ya around here,
Patrick
Pat’s last blog post..Faithful and Steadfast — FAST
Link | February 3rd, 2008 at 3:39 pm