QUOTE(SeaCraig @ Jul 20 2010, 02:59 AM)

For such a "christian" nation we're so hypocritical. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord......isn't that the quote?
People should just admit that this situation just brings up all the feelings of powerlessness to deal with random violence. And random violence is everywhere in our society. It's also much easier when it's a "foreign" issue as we're a nation of privilege and feel like we can tell everyone else how they "should" be.
It's funny too when another country has an opinion of how we should be doing something and then everyone is pissed off.
Many countries don't believe we should EVER use the death penalty....do we listen to them? Do we give a shit what they think...hardly...why should Scotland or Libya care what we think?
SeaCraig...your responses reflect your hypocrisy. You reject the idea that we are a "christian" nation, yet you're trying to (mis)use that as a way of supressing the reaction to Scotland's decision to set a convicted murderer free. That's slick, but so's the oil in the gulf. Doesn't make it good to swim in.
You might have some valid points. Only you don't allow them to stand on their own merit. For example...the idea that this is in response to feeling powerless. I don't agree with you in this case for obvious reasons (he was caught, tried, convicted, and already in prison). But as an idea the idea that responses are fueled by the powerlessness people feel when attacked, assaulted, victimized, when nothing can restore the lives the murdered ended, has some merit.
But...what are you arguing?...that it's somehow a reflection of feeling powerless that makes so many people think he should still be serving his sentence? People haven't been saying he should (now) be executed, although many did think he deserved it. But....objecting to setting him free is not fired by vengence, as you continually try to frame it, but rather justice.
You're making an assertion that is essentially unsupportable and also irrelevant: that we don't care what others think about our using the death penalty. Many states don't employ the death penalty. Many Americans don't support the death penalty, although not because other countries say we shouldn't use it most likely, but because of their own beliefs and convictions.
But Scotland should care what we think because the vast majority of the victims on the plane were Americans. We are not "just" distant, opinionated, self-righteous observers. And Scotland claimed to do this on fair, compassionate grounds...all the while ignoring other components of fairness, compassion, and justice.
When we agreed not to press for extradition, Scotland made a commitment to fair justice. Holding themselves to the standard of fairness and justice, Scotland has failed. They said it was only on "compassionate" grounds, but now to hear that it wasn't only that, that politics, money, oil played their sordid parts, is like the cap coming off the well.
We do care and listen to others. We just had the President of Mexico come and tell us a law duly executed in one of our states was wrong and that we should overturn it (even though the law isn't as stringent as laws on the books in his own country). Or did you miss that performance, supported by the President of the United States and many who don't mind the opinions of foreigners and foreign goverments when they are in line with their own thoughts?
But...honestly...SeaCraig....your responses consistently seem to be designed to shut down discussion, debate, and opinions that don't line up with yours. Go back and read how you frame it..."people should admit"..."everyone"..."everyone is pissed off", etc. Continually framing that this is about vengeance rather than justice.
And then what are you arguing? That a convicted murderer should have been set free, and that everyone else should shut up because we do things (some) other people in the world don't agree with? Is it only if we were to do everything the way that you think before we would be able to express any opinions or reactions to things that happen in other countries?
So no speaking out about the Ugandan bill to make homosexuality (or acts) punishable by death?
No speaking out on using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions in other countries?
No speaking out about the Iranian woman being stoned to death for adultery?
No opinions allowed from here about banning the burqa in France, minarets in Switzerland, or churches or Bibles in Saudi Arabia?
Be careful about trying to shut down debate and ideas, even when you don't agree with them. Or to make your case for the US being so awful we should just shut up about any and everything until we fix everything here.