I’m very much anti-death penalty. There was a time when I was all about fryin’ the bad guys, but that time’s long since passed. I don’t think I could watch anyone get the death penalty in 2009 with a clear conscience. I strongly believe that, in matters of life and death, God is the arbiter, not man. Call it corny, but that’s my belief and I’m not ashamed of it.
Today, after what seemed like a lot of talk, the piece of garbage that bombed Lockerbie flight 103 was released and allowed to return home to Libya, to a hero’s welcome. For all the deaths he caused, and all the pain he inflicted, he was allowed to go home and be cheered like a conquering hero. The Scottish government believed it showed their compassion, seeing as this piece of garbage is dying of prostate cancer and has about three months to live.
Barack Obama, of course, jumped right into the fray with what he usually attacks every problem with: his words.
One US Senator said that by releasing Megrahi, Scottish ministers had increased the threat of international terrorism, and internet campaigners threatened a US boycott of Scottish products.
Mr Obama said: “We have been in contact with the Scottish government, indicating that we objected to this, and we thought it was a mistake.”
He added that he is now pressuring the Libyan government to keep Megrahi under house arrest until his death.
Big effing deal, Mr. President.
Let’s face facts. Barack Obama, and everyone on his side of the aisle believe the same way I do about the death penalty. But what does that have to do with not keeping the man in prison for life?
Had this man been put to death, we wouldn’t be having this chat right now. He’d be dead, and we’d forget about him. Instead, we’re talking about him being released. In this case, the word compassion is used, but you can substitute reformed, rehabilitated, and re-educated interchangeably. It’s the same cloth cut into different shapes.
The point is that this is what’s going to happen when you oppose something as final as a death penalty. Life in prison is only “life in prison” when it’s not accompanied by sympathetic humane people with hearts and souls. Right or wrong, I don’t think this decision was based on anything but a true desire to be compassionate even as he showed no such trait toward his victims.
It’s over. This kind of thing happens when you don’t end things in a final way. Sometimes it means that even the biggest pieces of garbage are going to be the recipients of amount of kindness and compassion they don’t deserve. With that in mind, it’s important to remember we’re not robots and don’t make emotionless decisions or decisions that are always founded in the firmest logic.
It’s what makes us human, and it’s important we don’t lose sight of that, even in cases like these.