An Inhumane Decision
How wrong is this?:
TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) - The only man convicted in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing has returned home to Libya to die after Scotland released him from prison Thursday, a decision that outraged some relatives of the 270 people killed when the jetliner blew up over a Scottish town. …thousands were on hand to greet him warmly when his plane from Scotland touched down at a military airport in Tripoli. There was a festive atmosphere with some wearing t-shirts with al-Megrahi's picture. Others waved Libyan and Scottish flags while Libyan songs blared.
Like many of you, I suspect, I’ve been searching my soul for the past few days to see if my opinion that Abdel Baset al-Megrahi needed to die in prison--hopefully with a great deal of discomfort--fell short of fulfilling my self-image as a reasonably compassionate human being. I mean, it seemed pretty clear to justice authorities in Scotland that this man who helped snuff out so many innocent lives should enjoy freedom in the final months of his own life before his terminal prostate cancer killed him. Obviously Scottish leaders were feeling compassion toward al-Megrahi. It shouldn’t be too big of a leap for us to understand their mindset. Scotland is part of Great Britain, America’s closest ally. Hell, MY family heritage is Scottish. What was I missing here?
Reading about the hero’s welcome that greeted the terrorist today, I don’t think I was missing anything. This decision by the Scottish government is an utter betrayal of justice. Almost all the family members of the Lockerbie victims are horrified by this, and why wouldn’t they be? The one tiny shred of justice they were granted was seeing the person responsible for their unimaginable suffering behind prison walls. Now they don’t even have that.
Setting free, for humane reasons, someone who committed an epic crime against humanity might be a “kind” act worthy of saintliness, but I submit that wasn’t a call Scottish civil authorities were qualified to make. I think the minute al-Megrahi took part in planting the bomb that killed all those people, he gave up any right he would ever have again to any measure of comfort or compassion in his life. He was found guilty and got a life sentence. What does the fact that he got prostate cancer have to do with anything? People who are sent to prison for life have to die there of something or another.
I’m still going to read more about this to see if there are other angles. I know some people, even in Britain, even some family members of victims, don’t think al-Megrahi was guilty. But he was convicted in a Scottish court of law. Don’t they have any more respect for their own system of justice than that?
I want to get your comments on this, pro and con.
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Comments: 11
Maybe we should start considering releasing all those terminally ill prisoners out of compasion, regardless of their cimmes!?!??! - Unbelievable!!!
Jim, I am Scottish and agree with you entirely on this but I was disappointed that during tonight's broadcast you said that Scotland is a part of England! Above you don't say that! Hope you don't make that mistake again! Our justice system has always been separate from England and Wales and we are proud of it being that way! Slainte, Kara
What was you missing here?
I think it is pretty simple. Apparently the whole western world (Europe and America) is getting into the culture that targeting terrorists or Islamic extremists is not PC, so they tend to be more soft toward them.
By the way, I don't see how Obama can criticize Scotland's decision while he himself wanted to close the Gitmo bay and want those terrorists inside to criminal court in America (and possibly released by sympathetic liberal judges) . He and his liberal allies also think that to lock those guys in Gitmo bay somehow violate those guys' rights.
Apparently our leaders' decision were not much better than Scotland's. These guys don't seem to realize that to be humane toward terrorists means to be inhumane to the victims, their families and other citizens.
Humanity and compassion seem to be missing, judging by the reaction to this in the U.S.
Does keeping a dying man (whose guilt is doubted by many) in a cell really ease the pain of the friends and relatives of the victims?
The Scots should ajust their criminal system. The bastard that set this bomb or planned the bomb should have met the same fate as those in the plane. The Scots could have been more humane and just launched a bullet in his head.
The Scots should ajust their criminal system. The bastard that set this bomb or planned the bomb should have met the same fate as those in the plane. The Scots could have been more humane and just launched a bullet in his head.
Dear Jim:
I'm glad you corrected yourself before the end of the news. And you say you have ancestors from Scotland! Why do you think Andy Murray gets so mad when people refer to him as an Englishman?? Scotland has partially seceded, and now has its own government and own laws. It really always has. England and Scotland are and will always remain two separate countries - with many, many battles between them in centuries past. James VI of Scotland became James I of England, way back when. So, please be careful in the words you choose. Would you like to be mistaken for a Canadian?!?!?
The United Kingdom and Great Britain are names given to an amalgam of countries and islands. Within there are England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - the latter not to be confused with the Republic of Ireland, which is separate and apart from all the above.
History lesson over.
Jim,
It was refreshing to see you correct yourself about Scotland. Even though I knew and wasn't going to call you on it, the fact that you corrected yourself adds to the integrity of the news.
regards,
Rao
Jim,
It was refreshing to see you correct yourself about Scotland. Even though I knew and wasn't going to call you on it, the fact that you corrected yourself adds to the integrity of the news.
regards,
Rao
Yes, thank you, Jim. It was very much appreciated. Scotland is a wonderful nation in its own right even if some of our government officials do make extremely bad decisions! Kara
Well Jim having just recently decided to check out your blog you do seem to lean in the liberal direction (NO!!) but I'm glad to see you're not that liberal at least as regards criminal justice issues. John Gotti got throat cancer towards the end and nobody made similar arguments that he should go back home. IMO "bleeding-heart liberal" is more than a stereotype and since liberals are often perceived as having a soft spot for the criminal type liberalism has never really taken off in this country. Again why should one's illness while serving a life sentence gain your release? AND he never even expressed remorse to boot.