Compassion For Lockerbie Bomber Reflects Well Of The World
I have been watching the reaction to the release of the Lockerbie bomber and trying to fit my own thoughts into the mix. I am very sure that I would be upset if a family member had been on the plane that was destroyed, and then know that the perpetrator of the act was released from prison. But not having anyone I knew on the flight allows me the luxury of thinking about this removed from the flash point anger that some are experiencing. I think it important to be able to ponder this unattached from the emotion.
While the primary reaction to this release was one of outrage and condemnation, I think we need to be thankful that the human touch, even for the most dreadful among us, has not been lost. While the monstrous action of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi will always define him, does not the release from prison for his terminal medical condition also define the rest of us.
Did this act of humanness, even for one that did not deserve it based on his life, catch the world so off guard due to the often coarse and harsh conditions that we encounter each day in the newspaper,at the office, or on a blog? Isn’t the release of the Lockerbie bomber under these conditions what we all would like to have the strenght to do? Is this act not our better angels prevailing over the darkness? Is not the teachings of our religion showcased by his release for medical reasons?
I would think that come Sunday many a pastor and preacher could find a sermon about this incident. Holding a mirror up to the release of the Lockerbie bomber I think reflects very well for the better part of our collective ideals and hopes for who we are as world citizens.
hmmmm, this went well. can we have a little of that compassion back? oops, the medical estimate was only off by 9 years and 9 months
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-07-14/bp-libya-deal-did-bp-free-the-lockerbie-bomber/
I know that those in the pro-life community will welcome this news.
Lockerbie bomber not likely to die soon.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/05/expert-lockerbie-bomber-live-longer/?test=latestnews
I like the spirited debate too. My comment about you blogging was made in a light-hearted way to open my more serious thoughts.
I did not applaud the release of the person because he was ill, but because he was dying. And I ask if the monstrous action of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi will always define him, does not the release from prison for his terminal medical condition also define the rest of us?
I see this action as one that a Pope might make for instance. Was it not JPII that met with his would-be killer, and forgave him?
It was with that in my mind that made me pen the line “Isn’t the release of the Lockerbie bomber under these conditions what we all would like to have the strenght to do? “
I know that these acts are most difficult to undertake as it runs counter to the way we are designed to think and operate.
It is for that reason I applaud this action. Someone rose above the common responses and made a higher and more serious, but correct one.
In a perfect world there would have been no plane taken down, and therefore no need to consider what to do with a cancer-ridden prisoner.
Deke, my reference to “embracing religion” was in reference to your various digs as of late about the Christian “Right” in various articles such as about the guy screaming”send them back with a hole in their head the second time”, and the reference to whether or not he was a “Christian”, as well as various politicians, and references to their faith. While you make yourself “fair game” each time you do that, my reference was not intended as an indication of whether or not you are a person of faith…rather, to the recent comments you have made about others.
All of the charities and involvements that you have are admirable, for sure. I’m sure you do your fair share…Again, I’m not attacking your personal beliefs…I HAVE read your blog for a little while, and yes, I have opinions on things, as you can see. You also know that I have even asked you to retract, rather than post something I may have said in anger, or un-objectively….Right??? So, I do try to be fair…So, I really don’t consider my comment to be “snide”…as it was not an attack on your personal beliefs.
I would expect you to stand by your post…That’s you, and you don’t usually back down…However, Deke…It really surprises me that with all of this compassion you have for all of these different needs, charities and such, that you would applaud the release of a mass murderer because he’s ill…you would salute that, over the horror, pain, suffering, grieving, and personal loss of all of these families of these victims.
By the way, in reference to your first comment about my post… are you suggesting that I don’t write on Your Blog
anymore? I enjoy the spirited debate that comes from it…If you don’t want my responses, I won’t waste our time…
Have a great day…
First, you seem to have as many opinions on the issues as I do, and as such you might think of starting your own blog!
Second, I am smiling at your statement that I am “suddenly embracing “religion”.” Wow, that seems to mean that you have not read my blog for very long. Actually I know that I am a very spiritual person. Though I do not write of religion per se often, I hope that comes through when I champion helping the little guy either have health care, or not having our radio airwaves cluttered with mean and filthy conversation. When I help raise awareness for the gift giving at the Children’s Hospital in Madison for weeks each year, or the Santa Train in the Appalachian Mountains, that is my faith and religion at work. So your snide comment has no foundation.
It would seem to me, based on your comment, that you might be the one that needs to understand what love and compassion are all about, and how those are parts of religions all over the world.
I completely stand by my post, that should go without saying.
Let see it took 12 years to catch the guy. Libya wouldn’t release him and he only spends 7 years in jail. I am sure he was being treated well in jail; they were giving him medical treatment. Couldn’t the Scottish government in an act of “compassion” bring up his relatives from Libya to stay with him and say goodbye?
This yahoo has now been given the chance to go home to die and the people on Pan AM 103, were never given that or in other words 270 people were never given their Compassionate Release.
Deke…are you kidding me…??? You think this is a good thing? Do we let out all murderers from jail because they get sick? I’m astounded…both on your thought process, and your timing, in suddenly embracing “religion”…A mass murderer, of the worst kind…All of the pain and suffering it has caused so many families…I appreciate that YOU can take an objective look, because YOU “were removed from the flash point of anger”…So what you see over-rules justice
and compassion for all of those others..???
While his release is a gesture of mercy, it certainly seems to be one lost on Lybia. They greeted the one who helped slaughter all those innocent people like a returning hero, ignoring the reasonable request of Obama that no such welcome would happen. No house arrest. I have to wonder if they would have snubbed Bush the same way?