Monstrous Dictator or Potential Martyr?

In what was thought to be the successful end to what many believed to be a tyrannical monster's influence upon the Arab world, Saddam Hussein was escorted to his death December 30, 2006. Now, the new era of life in a world that is now minus one defiant dictator, protestors are coming out of the wood work, from the ancient remains of the Colosseum in Italy, to a 2-day battle in Cashmir against US soldiers. Protestors against the death penalty grouped and numbered many in Italy, where one woman said that Saddam's execution is " . . . something that affects all of us."

In Jordan, a rally was held in Saddam's honor, as mourners chanted praise for Saddam, and where his eldest daughter declared "God bless you and thank you for honoring the Martyr, Saddam."

In Sri Lanka, protestors carried signs and banners which read "President Saddam . . . A Martyr."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair believes the manner in which Hussein was executed was "completely wrong," his office said Sunday.

Human Rights Watch said Saddam's speedy execution illustrated the Iraqi government's disregard for human rights, and urged Iraqi officials to halt two upcoming hangings.

In Tikrit, students protested while holding a picture of the executed President Saddam Hussein, 80 miles north of Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday. About 1,500 students gathered to protest Saddam's execution.

Such heralding of support was not seen for the thousands upon thousands of Saddam Hussein's murdered victims, however.

Here, at home in the United States, the main response to Saddam Hussein's execution is "The world is better off without him. Even the Bible says the governments of the world are responsible for putting tyrants who pose a potentially dangerous threat to the nations to death," so declared a Baptist preacher from Birmingham, Alabama.

Another Alabamian, a mother of three shopping in the local Winn Dixie Supermarket had this to comment: "shouldn't someone organize a rally for the those murdered by Saddam Hussein? Then they could carry signs that say, 'NO MORE INNOCENTS TORTURED!' or even 'TOTALITARIAN RULERS SHOULD NOT COMMIT GENOCIDE!' or how about 'NO DICTATOR CAN HAVE OUR PEOPLE ENDURE RAPE ROOMS UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES'!" Peering across the buggy and mound of bagged grocery items were two of the woman's three children. For a moment, looking into the eyes of the beautiful children, I wondered aloud "How could a mother protest the execution and death of such a cruel man when so many mother's children died at his hands or at the hands of those under his command?"

Of course, the mother's suggested rally would be looked upon as ridiculous, unneeded, and maybe even preposterous. Those protests may be looked upon as ironically as the current protests calling for Saddam Hussein to be martyred.