ps. opinions without justifcation are blind…that’s my opinion…

i) This is an Armenia blog where that takes preference. I’m sure you can find all the debate and discussion you want on Middle Eastern and Iraq-centered blogs.

ii) This blog is something I do when I’m not working, and I have some work to clear. Because of that, and point i), I cannot spend much time on engaging in discussion on issues such as this.

iii) I’m happy to accept your opinion and let you state it on my blog. However, the only person who seems to be saying that anyone’s “opinion is misguided” is you.

Again, that’s up to you, you’ve said it, and now I have to get back to what I was doing.

If all we can do is say you have yours and i have mine, then what will decide whose opinion is more informed, rational, and thought-thru, and whose opinion we should accept? And more importantly, what gives us the authority to say someone else’s opinion is misguided or ill-informed, or simply is nonsense? If we don’t appeal to reasoned arguments to justify our opinions, then it will descend into might makes right, or mob-rules (perhaps this is democracy for you?)? Is this ok for you?

Like I said, I’ve made my opinion clear. I don’t believe in the death penalty and I think they made a mistake in how they executed Saddam, but time will tell if that’s the case or not. Otherwise, like I also said, despite my objection to capital pubishment, I’m not shedding a tear for Saddam.

And that’s about as far as it goes. I have my opinion, you have yours, and I’m not appealing to anyone or anything to say or do anything different.

MY beef isn’t with the fact that you have your own opinion, of course not…but I am very concerned about how people justify and account for their opinions…So, if you say, as you do, that you don’t believe that democracy and human rights can co-exist with capital punishment, I want to know on what basis you make this link and to what reasons you appeal for support? This is the crucial area for informed discussion…

Jordan

What do you think we should say about Saddam’s death?

Jordan, I think everyone has the right to their own opinion, which is why your comments are welcome on this site just as I’ve made mine. I oppose the death penalty, but admit that I don’t shed any tears now that Saddam is dead.

However, I do think that his execution was carried out in an inappropiate manner, and in a way that will make him into a martyr for some, and lead to more sectarian violence.

Moreover, I don’t support that death penalty and am glad we don’t have it in Armenia or Europe. Indeed, I don’t believe that the concept of democracy and human rights can co-exist with the idea of capital punishment.

But just my own personal opinion.

And what do you appeal to to justify your position? And are there absolute values that transcend all cultures, and how should these values be spread throughout the world? And who in your view should (and should not) do it? Remember that just because most people accept a value as universal doesn’t mean that it is at all or should be…

Please recognize the situatedness of your own position…I think the hypocrite argument so often waved-about will hit closer to home…

And I do appreciate you publishing my post…because I do feel that it is the image that has the power…which of course takes us away from reason onto to the emotional level…all we have here is a power-play, one self-righteous group trying to impose its will on others…

It’s also somewhat hypocritical for the U.S. and U;K. to argue for Saddam’s execution when many of those he tortured and killed were done so with instruments and training supplied by the West when it suited them. Indeed, had Saddam not invaded Kuwait then he would have been alive, still in power, and in relation with the West no matter what unspeakable evil he represented.

Anyway, that’s it, really. The guy was a monster and I don’t feel sorry he’s dead. However, even if the death penalty was to be used, it should have been done in a more “humane” way than this, or are we saying that it’s okay to humiliate victims just as he did? Are we saying we can do the same and we’re no better? Anyway, that’s it, really.

http://fdd.typepad.com/fdd/2006/01/alert_saddams_c.html

Without the leaked video of Saddam’s hanging, I’m sure the reactions would have been on a different level (perhaps more cognitive), so of course, the visual images are crucial (just think abotu the Rodney King video) to one’s argument…