I believe in due process and a person's right to a fair trial. As United States citizens, we treasure the rights and freedoms our country was built upon. I have to think however, that the life in prison sentence given to Zacarias Moussaoui is taking things too far. He has openly taunted the U.S., even the victims own families, taking pleasure in the tragedies he inflicted on 9/11. Throughout the trial and subsequent sentencing, he has remained arrogant, defiant and not at all remorseful for his actions. I have to wonder what sort of discussions took place in that jury room. On what did those 12 men and women base their decision to give him life and not death? I can honestly say I doubt I could have rendered an unbiased verdict. My mind was made up from the moment they took him into custody.
I guess we can take some comfort in putting him away for the rest of his life. He will face a far greater judgment down the road. I just have to wonder if justice has been served here on earth.
I wondered why they could not sentence him to death. Was it just one person who disagreed or more? His arrogance and non-repentent attitude was enough for me, too. And while I do think that he will certainly face judgement after this life, I do not think justice was served here on earth. President Bush made the comment that the jury showed him mercy, which was more than he showed for the victims of 9/11.
If someone had a hand in killing ONE person, they will get life in prison. If someone aids another in killing ONE person, they will get life in prison. How this man escaped DEATH for helping to kill 3, 000 people is beyond my comprehension. I sometimes waiver on my view of the death penalty, but if anyone deserved it, it was him. Crystal clear to me.
No kidding, apparently they felt sorry for him because he had no family but was raised by the group who ordered him to attack America [not kill some people and destroy a couple of buildings]. He should have been tried for war crimes not murdering thousands of peole he did not know or care about. That was incidental to him - his intent was to harm this country and he was not tried for that. Does that make sense? I am not devaluing the lives lost but he did and does. To him they were just causalties of war. America was and still is the target.
It is hard to understand why such a verdict was okayed by the courts and permitted by God. However, I believe that Christians around North America were praying for justice to be done and our prayers do NOT go unanswered. Somehow this life sentence has passed by the Higher Justice system. We don't know what kind of existance Moussaoui will have but we do know that God has shown him a mercy that we cannot comprehend. Would it be too much to pray that he will repent and turn to God?
I think Moussaoui's story reminds me a little of Jonah's reaction in being sent to preach repentance in Nineveh, long-standing enemies of Israel who had inflicted all kinds of atrocities were being offered the same mercy that God offers everyone today. It was hard for Jonah to stomach what he was being asked to do. In fact, he ran away and got swallowed by a whale before he gave in and did what God asked him to do in the first place.
The question God places in my heart today by this confusing issue is...Can I accept mercy from the hand of God, and not want that same mercy to be given to others? And, are sins ranked by God as being really bad, not so bad, just menial, etc?
The daily, sometimes hourly, musings of a homeschooling mom of four surviving on prayer, friendship and lots of Starbucks. Some days my cup runs over and some days it all spills out the cracks...and I wouldn't have it any other way.
