Specific Sympathies

Remember when Australia made a big fuss about Singapore hanging one of their fellow man who trafficked drugs into the country? And how all Asian countries which had the death penalty were condemned for being inhumane and etc etc? And that those who believed in the death penalty were backward and all that jazz?

Well, I wonder what they have to say about Saddam's very public and much applauded by America and Britain, hanging. I wonder why they didnt go jumping and protesting that it is inhumane, that it is not right, that this and that. So was the whole protest against the death penalty specific to Australians being involved only? Or Australians who have a reason for doing the wrong thing? Such as he was trying to support his family (like what type of lame ass excuse is that for trafficking drugs?) I cannot help but agree with what Tun M said about Australia.
Look, if you want to oppose the death penalty, the least you could do is be consistent about it. You should oppose it lock stock and barrel. For me, I do not oppose it. I do not condone it. But I do agree that if need be, it should be enforced.

Was it right for Saddam to be hung so quickly after his appeal was denied? Was there not another tier for him to explore? Was that appeal Court the last tier? If the Human Rights Watch committee thinks that Saddam did not have a fair trial, should he have been retrialed? Was the trial a fair one? It seemed as if he was not allowed to be upset with anything. If he didnt agree to something, he had to walk out of the Court because everyone who went in there had prejudged ideas as to his guilt and he knew he could not change what was already determined. He committed the crimes therefore he does not deserve a fair trial or an equal opporunity to be heard and to disagree?

While we in Malaysia have reserved our comments on Saddam's hanging, I personally feel that our quest for human rights in the world today is already smeared by the hanging of Saddam. All calls for a retrial have been ignored and as quickly as he was sentenced, he was hanged. Many of us are still in the dark about what happened at the trial. It was so quick and in a nanosecond, it was over and he was found guilty. What does that say about us humans who are so quick to judge? And what about the Australians? Their sympathies are channeled to particular paths and they only take the path that benefits them? If indeed Saddam is guilty, what about Bush? Is he not guilty of sending the troops to fight an unnecessary war? What about Blair? For sending his men to fight a war which does not even concern them? And Australia again, ah, those misguided ones. Fighting a war which they do not even have an idea why they should.

ALL of us are guilty or something or other at some point in our lives, and while that is worrying to know, I can only wish to be comforted by the fact that if I were to stand before a Court for the wrong that I have done, I will be tried fairly. And I suppose it helps that the whole world isnt against you.