Bebo

Cal Johnson <eight2002>

"I wish I was a Skeleton Boy ;]"

	A bit about...	116 dni temu
	...al-Megrahi. Did he do it? Didn't he do it? Really, those questions aren't the questions any more. Sure, there was doubt over his guilt all along; there was the Malta connection, but the fact the shopkeeper who ID'd him was paid a handsome sum by the Americans helps his case a lot, but the (non-)appeal isn't the issue. The new issue lies with Kenny MacAskill's decision to allow him to go free on compassionate grounds. I heard a startling figure on the news, apparently he only served 11 and a half days per victim of that particular act of terrorism. If he was actually responsible (although nigh-on impossible for him to be solely responsible), it would seem like he has been given a particularly lenient sentence - although he has now been given a completely new life sentence in the form of prostate cancer. I heard the presenter of Newsnight Scotland ask Mr MacAskill a particularly difficult question, something along the lines of "What compassion have you shown the families of the victims of that bombing?". Its a really good question, and Kenny didn't answer with any particular conviction. When I thought about the question, releasing a mass murderer shows absolutely no compassion toward the victims' families. Really though, compassion was shown to those families when we fought tooth and nail for the extradition of al-Megrahi, when we put him to trial and got a conviction - some level of closure. Then I thought about how I would feel, if the boy who stabbed me were let out. Instinctively, I swelled with rage at the thought, but after thinking about it for a few hours I can't help but think, "well if he were dying, with only a few months left, what would it really matter? what difference does it make if he dies in jail or at home...". If I let him go home I show two things. Firstly, that I'm not weak, I caught him and made sure he was punished (or rather the police did) and secondly that I'm merciful. The law allows for release in the case of a terminally ill prisoner, so that they may see out their last days with loved ones. My first reaction was "why not let him out on compassionate grounds?". I answered myself, thinking "because he showed no compassion in his planting a bomb on that flight, nor remorse since being convicted". I then thought "but that's why we should let him go, we are not the same as him, we are capable of mercy". That is exactly why it was right to send him home. We're not a country which brazenly supports terrorists or the planned murder of civilians (although we must take responsibility for the unplanned death of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq). I hope the world will eventually see it this way. I hope the world doesn't look at the scenes of Saltires flying in Tripoli and think Scottish people are celebrating the release of what the courts have deemed a mass murdered. I hope the world eventually sees us for the merciful people we are. We are not them. We are better than them.
	opublikowane przez Cal Johnson

2 komentarze:

	Sneakers O'Toole mówi…	116 dni temu
	A lot of good points there. The main problems with repect to the image of Scotland are likely to come from the USA, http://www.boycottscotland.com/ , i give you this as a prime example. One is inclinded to think if another country were to "boycott" the US and any exports on the basis of thier actions over the years the founder of this website would be drawn to disagree.
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	Mr Ryan Davidson mówi…	115 dni temu
	Compassion – noun 1. "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering" Where has compassion been shown for those who suffered loss in 1988? It is not a case of mercy or forgiveness. Anybody can learn to forgive even the most terrible actions. Its about punishment with regards to the crime. Now Abdel Basset al-Megrahi is back in Libya a hero with all the comforts of home and his family around him. He now has a CHOICE how to spend the last few days of his life He now has the CHOICE to do things he wants to do before he dies He now has the CHOICE to say the things he wants to say to people before he dies He now has the CHOICE of dying at home or hospital. What CHOICE did HE give to the 270 people that died through his actions? NONE! The man should have rotted in jail and had his body paraded through the town of Lockerbie for everyone to spit on his rotton corpse!
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