This month we celebrate Martin Luther King Day. It is a holiday – a celebration of one man’s quest for equality, peace and dignity. It reminds us to climb the mountain of humanity in order to reach the “Promised Land” that awaits us once the world’s evils are vanquished.Coincidentally, the holiday occurs just a few weeks into the New Year – a time when people reflect and make resolutions to live better lives. In light of both of these timely events, I think it’s important for all of us to reflect on the year 2006 – a year of continued war (Iraq) and genocide (Darfur), as well as deep political, economic and religious divides.
2006 was also the year during which the GOP majority was finally downsized through a democratic process – one the U.S. vows to spread throughout the Middle East. However, in one part of that region, Iraq, a former president wasn’t lucky enough to be voted out of office. Saddam Hussein was hung from a noose.
I guess I was naive to believe that my country, the one occupying that country, would show better judgment in meting out punishment to Saddam. I had hoped the U.S. would insist on life imprisonment, or at least put the hanging on hold until a semblance of law and order was restored in Iraq.
Of course, capital punishment is still dispensed in America, like it or not … but hanging? I thought that disappeared with the hoop skirt.
As it turns out, hanging is still legal in the states of Washington and New Hampshire, though I’m not sure it’s actually performed. I also read that Placerville, California is proud of its “hanging” heritage: it still goes by the nickname “Old Hangtown.” According to CNN, “The town has never tried to hide its history of vigilante justice gone overboard during the 1849 Gold Rush.” The police even wanted to substitute a little noose for the letter “O” when spelling Hangtown on their vehicles.
In any case, while most people were watching fireworks and sipping champagne to ring in the New Year, Saddam was hanged. Minutes later, the miracle of Internet technology allowed us to watch it again and again, thanks to a witness who recorded the event on a cell phone. After this grizzly entertainment was posted on the Web, the world began debating the circumstances of the execution.
...
Even if you support the “eye for eye” philosophy, consider the following. As stated in the Book of Exodus, “Thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” According to the rules, therefore, Saddam should not be the only one hanged. The enforcers of that hanging should be next.
Patricia "Tricia" DeGennaro is an Associate Professor of International Affairs at New York University's Center for Global Affairs.
-- read more --
