Barbaric

I haven't held a strong opinion about the death penalty, not on a philosophical level. I suppose that in general, I find it retributive and unsatisfying at best. This business with Saddam Hussein has got me troubled.

First of all, to have morbid curiosity fulfilled for millions via video and internet: I realize, of course, that public hangings have always drawn crowds. The Wild West, our own lionized colonies, the French revolution... Saddam was more deserving of the death penalty than most, there is no doubt. I am sure, also, that many victims and their families somehow needed the evidence.

It bothers me that he was executed before the judicial processing of his other crimes. It REALLY bothers me that he was executed on a Muslim holy day.

There is something very simplistic about eliminating a man wearing black- pretending evil has been vanquished. The world is still out of balance- although the bad guy is gone, the good guys (who are they?) continue to have more than they can contend with.

Who am I to call this justice barbaric? And to second-guess the timing? I don't even know who the good guys are; obviously my perspective is cloudy as well as naive.