Ishtarr
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Joined: 4/30/2008
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I really don't want to debate this, because I don't think it will serve a purpose, and I know that just this one post will stir up enough negative reactions as it is, but...
I've been reading the Osama topics going on, and I'm struck by how many Americans are celebrating Osama being shot without trial.
In particular, I'm amazed at how, whenever somebody questions the legality, the fairness, the morality of the assassination, the overwhelming reply is: "he did it first!"
I want to take a moment here to examine that statement...
I have no doubt that Osama killed a very large number of innocent people, and deserved to get justice served to him for that, but the argument that he was the first in his act of aggression just doesn't hold up.
Prior to 9/11, American troops had already on several occasions invaded Muslim territory and, as a result, killed innocent civilians.
Prior to that, Muslims had done the same.
Prior to that, Christians had done the same.
Prior to that... all the way back to the Middle Ages, and the begin of the Islam.
Hell, even more prior than that, considering the fact that there was documented aggression between Bedouins and Christians before the Islam even existed.
In fact, at this point, it is entirely impossible to track back which side ACTUALLY did "it" first.
Ever side, ever time, will be able to point back to history and show how it was the other side who provoked the aggression first, and how their act of aggression was merely a reaction, and therefor justifiable.
Now, you may argue that Osama was guilty, and his victims where not, and I will agree with you on that. However, the fact that he was guilty and his victims innocent doesn't change the fact that in retaliation to his guilt, America invaded again and now too has again the blood of innocents on their hands.
My point in all of this is:
If "they started it" is justification for shooting on sight, it WILL go on forever, because both side will justify it was the other side's fault forever.
I had really hoped that on this occasion, America and Americans would have been able to live up to the ideal of fairness and moral justice they so like to lay claim to, and instead of just pettily reacting, had been "the bigger man" by making it their utmost goal to bring in Osama alive and let him stand trial and be sentenced for his deeds. Maybe followed by the death penalty, maybe by lifelong prison, I don't know, but I had hoped that instead of a reactive, instinctive vengeance killing, we would have gotten to see America distancing itself from the behaving in the same reactive instinctive vengeance killing way that Osama had when he planned 9/11.
If America would have been able to show the world that it would combat hatred with rationality and justice, I'm sure that most of the whole world would have watched in admiration and pride... but now... I just feel rather sick to my stomach, because this golden opportunity was missed, and in the end...
Nothing has changed...
Ishtar
Edited for spelling
< Message edited by Ishtarr -- 5/4/2011 7:25:54 AM >
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