Thread: What’s your opinion on revenge killing?

We have all just witnessed a revenge killing of one man, a revenge killing of global proportion.

Was it right or wrong?

I go with "Tho shalt not kill", not, "Unless he really deserves it", or "Unless he was the one who started it" or any of those things, simply don't kill people.

To my mind wars and executions are a nasty, dirty business, I want no part in them and no association with them, still, in historical terms we have barely got past outlawing slavery, and certainly not abolished it, so what can you expect from a bunch of barbarians? About on a par with "The road to Basra" turkey shoot, disgraceful.

What do you do then with someone who masterminded the attacks that killed thousands of innocents? Invite him to tea and see if you can work things out?

Well, although I do support the killing of osama but I disagree with the path taken to do so. Too many innocent people were killed before the CIA actually killed the one person that the CIA was after. I would have preffered nice surgical strikes instead of war.

Originally Posted by The Backward OX

We have all just witnessed a revenge killing of one man, a revenge killing of global proportion.

Was it right or wrong?

It was right. He was bound to die anyway, might as well make a point of it. It wasn't just revenge, however, it was strategic as well.

Simply put, "A war," or a killing, for that matter, "does not determine what's right, only what's left."

Putting things in perspective, sure, I'll answer that killing in any way is bad, regardless of how you look at it. But if someone had done me a grave wrong, say, got my family killed, I may opt for vengeance. I mean, I lost my family, and whether it is a sin, a felony or a moral mistake, vengeance will always be there in my mind, and I may just execute it.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

I go with "Tho shalt not kill", not, "Unless he really deserves it", or "Unless he was the one who started it" or any of those things, simply don't kill people.

To my mind wars and executions are a nasty, dirty business, I want no part in them and no association with them, still, in historical terms we have barely got past outlawing slavery, and certainly not abolished it, so what can you expect from a bunch of barbarians? About on a par with "The road to Basra" turkey shoot, disgraceful.

I really hate to trigger Godwin's Law so early in a conversation, but if "killing is always wrong, wars are never justified" then they'd still be gassing Jews in Germany, only from around the globe. Sometimes the only way to stop a wrong, particularly crimes in progress, is to take a life.

Could they have brought Bin Laden in? Maybe. I don't have all the details, so I can't comment on that. All I know is that I consider OBL and the terrorist plots being run through his organization as "crimes in progress", and there are going to be deaths involved.

Though shalt not kill is a great ethical stance, but some people hand in their humanity cards at the door, and need to be taken out.

Most of my arguments are deontological in nature, and you may think this stance conflicts with it. They merge in that I think the appropriate response for an ongoing crime such as OBL's is to hunt them down and end them. You can argue whether it should have happened at the end of a trial or not, but to me the moral obligation to act has been satisfied.

Originally Posted by TheFuhrer02

Simply put, "A war," or a killing, for that matter, "does not determine what's right... "

True, there remains the question of 'why'?

Putting things in perspective, sure, I'll answer that killing in any way is bad, regardless of how you look at it.

Well that depends on how you look at it. Is it wrong to kill a mass murderer, especially if he's not willing to be taken alive?

Was it a "revenge killing," or was it "stopping a murderer determined to kill again"?

Originally Posted by Robinjazz

Was it a "revenge killing," or was it "stopping a murderer determined to kill again"?

It was a revenge killing, he was an old man who had not been outside for months and he was probably betrayed by those looking to replace him.

The Times front page today says "There was jubilation around the world today at ..." I may be in a minority, but I find that disgusting and barbaric, it is only a step away from putting his head up over the doorway.

I really hate to trigger Godwin's Law so early in a conversation, but if "killing is always wrong, wars are never justified" then they'd still be gassing Jews in Germany, only from around the globe.

I doubt that, there was already disillusion with with Hitler before the end of the war, it would never have lasted, non violence is not pacifism, I am not saying give up and do nothing. The doctrine of the greater good pre-supposes the ability to predict the future, look at the betrayal of the leveler regiments who adopted it during the civil war. The means must justify themselves because you never know what the end will be, that the other fellow adopts unjustifiable means is not reason for doing so oneself.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

he was an old man who had not been outside for months and he was probably betrayed by those looking to replace him.

Wow, he almost sounds like someone deserving of our sympathy.

Originally Posted by Olly Buckle

It was a revenge killing, he was an old man who had not been outside for months and he was probably betrayed by those looking to replace him.

The Times front page today says "There was jubilation around the world today at ..." I may be in a minority, but I find that disgusting and barbaric, it is only a step away from putting his head up over the doorway.

How many old people did he kill when his barbaric plot was hatched? Did you ever hear of the saying: "He who lives by the sword dies by the sword"? He got more than he deserved with the burial at sea. The people he killed got a fiery burial--and they didn't live by the sword; they were just innocent people going to work in order to pay their bills.

I wouldn't celebrate the death of another human being either. In fact, if I had had a voice in the asassination method, I would have suggested he disappear silently--mob style.

Though I don't particularly like it. I think it was necessary.

My poem is here: http://www.writingforums.com/poetry/...something.html

Perhaps another way to ask the question would be, if you were in Obama's shoes, would you have authorized it?