Is It Wrong
So Saddam Hussein has been executed.
I want to cheer for the ending of his reign of terror and for justice finally being served and initially I did just that.
But then I read things on CNN like:
“He was a broken man, he was afraid. You could see fear in his face.”
I read this and I find myself feeling sorry for him, and almost questioning his execution.
...
I’m hesitant to even write this, afraid of what people might think of me feeling sorry for the man. Is it wrong to feel sorry for someone of such an evil history? I mean, it’s Saddam Hussein. I feel like I’m supposed cheer even more so at the sad man as he meets his judgement.
But I can’t help having this internal conflict.
8 Comments
Phil Bowell
Dec 30 @ 01:04 AM
I can completely understand. I don’t think he should have been executed, killing him makes nothing right, and there are many more reasons why I don’t think he should’ve been killed.
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Joshua K.
Dec 30 @ 02:00 AM
I’m in the exact same boat. Many are cheering his death tonight, yet I feel a small sense of remorse. Am I glad he’s gone? Sure. But, he was essentially “gone” three years ago when he was removed from power. The death penalty is a tough issue, one I’ve flip floped on many times in my life. Right now, I can sympathise with you, as I have the exact same internal conflict.
Josh
Dec 30 @ 06:49 AM
It’s not wrong to feel sorry for him. The man is going to be hanged and that is quite a brutal way to go. He did, however, earn his punishment and we must believe that is a just one. He may be old and broken right now, but, there was a time when he was not - and he did some very bad things back then.
Chris Harrison
Dec 30 @ 07:16 AM
Good or bad, man shouldn’t decide who lives and who dies - that’s God’s job. Do I feel bad he’s dead? I dunno… My dad served in the first Gulf War and had the armed forces been able to take care of him in 1991, things might be a lot different today… But alas, everything happens for a reason. I hope Iraq is able stabilize now that this era of their existence has been taken care of.
Ben
Dec 30 @ 08:23 AM
I don’t feel bad at all. And I’m all for the death penalty. Biblically God has granted governments the authority to execute. This is why Old Testament Jews had no moral conflicts with stoning people to death for certain crimes. In fact, it was God who commanded that certain offenders be put to death at the hands of their peers.
Simen
Dec 30 @ 09:54 AM
I don’t think it’s wrong feeling that way. I think death penalty is meaningless. Saddam was removed from power several years ago. Putting him in prison for life would have had him actually paying for what he’s done. Killing him does not make any of the people he’s had killed rise from the dead. The only thing it does is give terrorists another martyr death to use in convincing people that suicide bombings and the like are good acts, “for God” or “for the Nation” or some such.
Shane
Jan 01 @ 11:44 AM
I hear you on this one Jesse.
It is natural to feel happy in the beginning because he will no longer be around to perform the acts of pure evil he is known for, but compassion is still compassion. I dont think that he should have been executed, but the world is safer having him put to death than sitting in prison, plotting escapes and other potentially treacherous acts.
Good post my bruta, I give you mad props for writing it.
~Blog on
James Finley
Jan 01 @ 05:46 PM
Man, this is something that has come on my heart very heavy in the past. Christ said to love our enemies, despite all their history and transgressions. Think about this, though Satan has caused the fall and eternal death of billions of men and women, God still love him. God never hates His creation. He hates the sin, but not the creation. I believe that even in Saddam’s death, Jesus wept.