human respect
Read this challenge this morning in the paper about the treatment of Saddam Hussein:
Would not the evil of Hussein’s actions be highlighted if, rather than an eye for an eye, he were accorded respect, courtesy and a just and fair trial. He must be brought to account. All fair-thinking people would concur. But demeaning television images and cries from politicians and community leaders calling for the death penalty demean us rather than him. Every person, even the cruel tyrant, is a reflection of the sacred and is worthy of respect.
Ouch. The message of Jesus was that we should value most those that have no value in society, and those that have no support, who are reviled, the criminals and the outlaws. How does that translate in the way that we speak about and deal with someone who we seem to be comfortable describing as “evil”.
I have long been of the opinion that our treatment of criminals must be exemplary and that the guarantees of rights for such people must be zealously protected. The reason why it is so important is simply that it is so easy not to. We know that Saddam is guilty of so many crimes, so what does it matter how we allow him to put on his defence?
August 29th, 2005 at 9:52 am
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