Face the Face

I'm glad I didn't watch any cable news (or TV other than football) over the New Year's Weekend after reading about how the execution of Saddam was covered. FOX (who has TV Christianist singers hosting their morning "news" show) was covering it with the glee that rivals Bartcop's glee at the Cowboys or Tiger Woods losing, and ALL of the news and Broadcast networks were in a rush to show the footage by explaining how it was a "tradition" in Arab countries.

Yeah, and it's a tradition here in the "Greatest, most civilized country in the world" as well, with tabloid newspapers sneaking into morgues, police videos acting as an approved version of snuff films, and the joy that some people derive from hearing about an execution.

There is also a big story going un-reported (or at least under-reported) about how Saddam's death was timed to cause maximum religious friction, the shady way it was carried out, and such, but I'm just disgusted by the sheer glee people are showing over the death of a human being. Did he deserve to die? Of course he did. But, as Tolkien said:

"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment"

And if you disagree with that, do you really think we should be presenting it as entertainment with phrases from supposed news people like:

-"This Has Got To Be A Good Feeling"
-"How about this for a segue? Do you want to see him with a noose around his neck and his neck snapped live on television on Pay-Per-View?"
-"You cannot turn over a deposed ruler over to the enemy and the U. S. is evidently saying "Duh. Don't worry about that. We're gonna do it anyway." But they're trying to get world-wide support and condemnation before the transfer has happened. Now, it could've already happened. We're gonna get this in the aftermath. That's the announcement. But we do know this. Here's how it's gonna look and this incredible. It's almost like a movie!"
-"Little does he know he gonna be put to get (sic) at the hands of Iraqis."