Poll | Justice or Compassion? Or both?
Tue, Aug 25, 2009
Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, convicted of murdering 270 people by blowing up Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, two decades ago was returned to his native Libya on Thursday. Should Scotland have released Megrahi? We’re asking in our poll.
Megrahi was convicted of the terrorist bombing and sentenced to life in prison, and under Scottish law life means life. “Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion available” said Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. Megrahi is dying of cancer, and under Scottish law there is a provision to show compassion and allow him to die, or live out the remainder of his life, in his homeland Libya.
For people wrapped up in debate, two images emerge; the 270 victims and their families, and a dying man. Compassion towards who? This may be a “What Would Jesus Do” moment.
What do you think?
August 21st, 2009 at 11:07 am
Justice is justice and should be respected and upheld.
Compassion is to ensure that he receives the proper medical attention needed and that death comes with the dignity that death comes to all terminally ill patients.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
In Canada the punishment a person receives is the sentence itself. Once in prison everything then is rehabilitation. I believe people often think a criminal’s punishment is the time spent in prison and they become very angry when life is better than expected for criminal’s incarcerated. Your statement, “what would Jesus do,” has always caused me to think. Maybe instead we should look back and ask “what did Jesus do.” He did not open the jails and let people out. He only said, (Matthew 25:38, 39, 43) “When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” Looking after and visiting someone in prison is compassion. So maybe Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi already was shown compassion. I not sure I could have let him out considering his crime. What compassion did he show to the 270 victims……?
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I was struck by what the Justice Secretary of Scotland said,“…even if those who perpetrate crimes against us have not respected us or shown any compassion. Here is a dying man. He didn’t show compassion to the victims, American or Scottish. That does not mean that we should lower ourselves, debase ourselves, or abandon our values. He was justly convicted, but we’re allowing him some mercy to return home to die.”
I believe this action although appears to diminish to the seriousness of the crime provides compassion that is undeserved, much like Jesus death on the cross for us. We are all undeserving of compassion.
I believe the last days of this man’s life in jail creates no additional justice but his release speaks to the kind of treatment we would like to receive ourselves in this world and especially on Judgment day.