Andrew Sullivan links to Stephen Bainbridge's blog in which Bainbridge shares some thoughts on execution which have been developed by leading Roman Catholic thinkers.
It's erudition; it's fascinating reading. (There's a difference between revenge and retribution which I find a bit precious, but probably defensible.)
In the final analysis, though, the point discussed in the last Logorrhea posting, is not discussed by Bainbridge.
Somehow, somewhere, unless he was a sociopath from birth, Hussein learned a lesson which allowed him to make decisions which ultimately led to the gallows. Societies need to learn how to spot the dangerous lesson, and we need to learn how to undo the damage they cause.
Until that time, executions will continue, and they are, nevertheless, evidence of social failure. We are diminished by the death penalty.
Death Penalty
Saddam Hussein
Monday, January 01, 2007
The Execution and Erudition
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Justice? Revenge? Diminishment?
John Donne wrote: "Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."
Saddam Hussein's execution has diminished us all. There is no disagreement with the various arguments for his death--justice, revenge, deserved. The point is that ultimately his death is evidence of the sad state of human social development.
Any time any person dies at the hands of another, acting alone or in concert with social mores, we have an example of social failure.
At some point, decisions are made which lead to the murder, the execution. What we need to do is to construct more just societies so that these decisions are never made.
It won't be easy.
It will take a determined effort, but the bells continue to toll. We may be justified in our eyes, but we are still diminished.
Death Penalty
Saddam Hussein