OMG I CANNOT believe Obama did this

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman

I can't understand how a law abiding citizen of a supposedly civilised western democracy could celebrate the death of anyone, no matter what their crimes.

The rule of law is such that execution is a required evil, it is not something to be celebrated or welcomed. To take visceral pleasure in another's death is to lower yourself to their inhuman depths.

I did not cheer and celebrate the death of Bin laden, I accepted that his death was a requirement to limit further bloodshed, a required act of evil to stop further, greater evil.

I'll grant you I spontaneously yelled when I heard the announcement that Bin Laden was dead, but it's not like I got pleasure from it. When I hear that Texas has executed another scumbag, I may think, "justice done," I'm not getting pleasure from it.

I also know the kind of scars you get on your soul when you kill someone, even when you know it was the right thing to do. A member of SEAL Team 6 or a state executioner probably has a soul that is filled with those scars. To them, well done, you're braver than I.

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

I also know the kind of scars you get on your soul when you kill someone, even when you know it was the right thing to do. A member of SEAL Team 6 or a state executioner probably has a soul that is filled with those scars. To them, well done, you're braver than I.

I think about the guy I didn't kill. I'm sure I mentioned the incident in "Adagio for Strings". It's easy enough to press the trigger, it turns out. But a guy I could have killed saw his mom again because I didn't press the trigger, despite having all the wrong reasons for doing so. Whatever else happens, I'm not a mindless thug. I sleep a bit better knowing that.