Laughing at Saddam

POSTED BY: Hero
UPDATED: Monday, January 5, 2026 21:57
VIEWED: 10444
PAGE 6 of 17

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE

SEVENPERCENT

Sunday, January 7, 2007 2:01 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:

He was evil, and I'm glad he's dead. I see no reason to give him any respect or honor.

You don't have to give him respect, or honor - you can even be grateful he's gone. But gloating and being amused by an execution shows a clear lack of moral character. Let's face it, this is not a 'funny' situation. It's not like it's a headline like "Clown Snorting Coke Inhales and Chokes on Own Rubber Nose," which would at least be situationally funny. We're talking about a hanging, and of a world leader at that (regardless of what he did, he was the leader of a country and was at one time, a very powerful figure).

------------------------------------------
"A revolution without dancing is no revolution at all." - V

Anyone wanting to continue a discussion off board is welcome to email me - check bio for details.

RUE

Sunday, January 7, 2007 2:29 AM

So many false dilemmas, so little time …
Either you delight in his death or you approve of him!
Either you want revenge him or you idolize him!

I don’t intend to argue these or any of the others. It’s not worth my time.

------------------------------------------------------------------

In the simplest terms possible:

It’s contradictory to define Hussein as evil for using humiliation, torture, fear and death … and then say that you're good for wanting the exact same things done to him.

But you’d rather be obtuse and keep pushing phony arguments. I suspect it’s b/c you think there’s an audience that could be fired up with the right approach, and you’d rather play to them. It doesn’t seem to be working either here or in the larger world.

Oh, btw, how’s that Iraq reconciliation going now that Hussein is dead? http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=18&t=26176

GEEZER

Sunday, January 7, 2007 2:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SevenPercent:
You don't have to give him respect, or honor - you can even be grateful he's gone. But gloating and being amused by an execution shows a clear lack of moral character.

I have to disagree. I find it a moral imperative to minimize Saddam's death; to make it as inconsequential as possible. I don't think he should be remembered as a martyr, or a figure of domination, or of fear. I'd prefer that he be remembered as a bad joke that went on far too long. Anything else gives him an influence on the world which he doesn't deserve.

Quote:
We're talking about a hanging, and of a world leader at that (regardless of what he did, he was the leader of a country and was at one time, a very powerful figure).

Stalin and Hitler were powerful figures and leaders of their countries too. I'm also glad they're dead, and would have mocked their deaths if I'd been around at the time. If something should happen to Kim Jung Il, I'd mock his death too. I'm not that crazy about the governments in Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Myanmar either, BTW.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

GEEZER

Sunday, January 7, 2007 2:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
It’s contradictory to define Hussein as evil for using humiliation, torture, fear and death … and then say that you're good for wanting the exact same things done to him.

Hardly so. Saddam used HTF&D on innocents, in massive numbers, with no hint of due process, to further his own quest for power. His humiliation and death were a result of legal proceedings in response to his actions against those innocents. As far as I know, no torture was inflicted on him. His fear was fear of just punishment for his crimes.

I make fun of him because I want to marginalize him, to remove his power to cause fear or to have any influence in death. He deserves nothing but what he got, and to be forgotten as quickly as possible.

Edit to add:

Rue, I've stated my position on this pretty clearly, but all you've done is snipe. Do you have any opinion on Saddam's execution, or are you just trolling for responses?

"Keep the Shiny side up"

RUE

Sunday, January 7, 2007 3:00 AM

Basically what you're saying is - 'when he did it he was evil b/c I don't credit his reasons; but I'm not evil since my reasons are good.'

I understand your position perfectly. It doesn't mean I agree.

And how's that reconciliation going?

CHRISISALL

Sunday, January 7, 2007 3:15 AM

Laughing at a being's death is the job of small, frightened minds. Saddam's spirit is released from it's twisted and evil body, and I wish it a better path.

I hope this kills this thread- Browncoats need to not be so vile. Did Mal laugh when he killed anyone? No, cause it's aways a shame.

Atypically serious Chrisisall

GEEZER

Sunday, January 7, 2007 3:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
Basically what you're saying is - 'when he did it he was evil b/c I don't credit his reasons; but I'm not evil since my reasons are good.'

I understand your position perfectly. It doesn't mean I agree.

I consider what he did evil because I consider the murder and torture of tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children, just so he could maintain his dictatorship by fear, to be evil. This was apparently all right by you. I consider his execution as justice. You apparently disagree.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

RUE

Sunday, January 7, 2007 3:43 AM

"just so he could maintain his dictatorship by fear" As I said, you disagreed with his reasons. But you agree with your reasons - "justice" by fear and death. Same game, different decorations.

And it wasn't all right by me, then or now. With you, it's a sometime thing.

GEEZER

Sunday, January 7, 2007 3:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Laughing at a being's death is the job of small, frightened minds. Saddam's spirit is released from it's twisted and evil body, and I wish it a better path.

Bullshit! Being a person who believes there is no deity or afterlife or immortal spirit, I have to consider reputation the only thing that survives after a person's death. Rating Saddam on what he did while he was alive, I see no reason for his reputation to be anything other than mockery and jokes.

Quote:
Did Mal laugh when he killed anyone? No, cause it's aways a shame.

Mal had no problem pushing a wounded and helpless man into the port engine of Serenity (The Train Job) because the guy would have eventually been a threat, and for intimidation value. Works for me.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

GEEZER

Sunday, January 7, 2007 4:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
"just so he could maintain his dictatorship by fear" As I said, you disagreed with his reasons. But you agree with your reasons - "justice" by fear and death. Same game, different decorations.

And it wasn't all right by me, then or now. With you, it's a sometime thing.

No, Rue. I disagree with the mass murder of innocent people. I disagree with a thug who would have children tortured and killed as a warning to their parents to toe the line. I disagree with a man who would allow his sons to kidnap young women and rape, brutalize, and murder them with impunity. I disagree with a man who took pleasure in personally executing his political enemies.

You apparently think that the execution of Saddam, after due process, was worse than the crimes he committed. That the guilty should not fear punishment for their crimes. Once again, I have to disagree.

"Keep the Shiny side up"

PREV PAGE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 NEXT PAGE