This problem shares the same root as the Christa Pike problem.
Waiting decades to enact justice in very obvious cases.
Had Nidal Hasan been dealt with appropriately – within the year of his conviction for what he was quite obviously guilty of – a private execution would have been sufficient.
I’m not a fan of the spectacle, but I’m open to being convinced that the spectacle has some ethical claim because of how long it has taken for justice to be enacted.
What I see as the possible distinguishing factor is that this is a military execution. The military does not handle justice the way civilians do.
That said, I don’t care to watch an execution. Generally, I do not believe public executions, which were historically routine, is edifying to the average person. Quite the contrary, they feed baser instincts.
When I saw this yesterday, I thought “it’s a terrible idea”, it will give this terrorist the martyrdom that he wanted. Across the globe, those that support the actions of this terrorist will hail this terrorist as a martyr and use the execution video to actively promote their ideology.
I guess I don’t want to watch someone die. Even if he deserves it. It’s not sport. It’s not entertainment. Do we really want to go back to the days when people packed a picnic lunch to go watch the hangin’? And then “Real Housewives of Wherever” still beats the firing squad in the ratings?
I really don’t see what this is supposed to accomplish, at least what good it can accomplish. Stir up Muslims? Give more impetus to anti-Capital punishment activists? Make Trump seem more like Hitler to the Trump Deranged? I’m trying to think of a single depiction of death by firing squad in a movie where the audience isn’t supposed to feel sympathy for those executed. Tom Cruise in “Valkyrie”? “Breaker Morant”?
Ethics? Or Ick?
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-livestream-army-execution-fort-hood-shooter-pentagon-official-says-2026-10-08/
-Jut
This problem shares the same root as the Christa Pike problem.
Waiting decades to enact justice in very obvious cases.
Had Nidal Hasan been dealt with appropriately – within the year of his conviction for what he was quite obviously guilty of – a private execution would have been sufficient.
I’m not a fan of the spectacle, but I’m open to being convinced that the spectacle has some ethical claim because of how long it has taken for justice to be enacted.
Maybe.
What I see as the possible distinguishing factor is that this is a military execution. The military does not handle justice the way civilians do.
That said, I don’t care to watch an execution. Generally, I do not believe public executions, which were historically routine, is edifying to the average person. Quite the contrary, they feed baser instincts.
I still don’t intend to tune in.
-Jut
When I saw this yesterday, I thought “it’s a terrible idea”, it will give this terrorist the martyrdom that he wanted. Across the globe, those that support the actions of this terrorist will hail this terrorist as a martyr and use the execution video to actively promote their ideology.
Counterpoint: the video won’t give them anything they aren’t already amped up for.
Michael West wrote, “Counterpoint: the video won’t give them anything they aren’t already amped up for.”
I disagree but time will tell.
I guess I don’t want to watch someone die. Even if he deserves it. It’s not sport. It’s not entertainment. Do we really want to go back to the days when people packed a picnic lunch to go watch the hangin’? And then “Real Housewives of Wherever” still beats the firing squad in the ratings?
I really don’t see what this is supposed to accomplish, at least what good it can accomplish. Stir up Muslims? Give more impetus to anti-Capital punishment activists? Make Trump seem more like Hitler to the Trump Deranged? I’m trying to think of a single depiction of death by firing squad in a movie where the audience isn’t supposed to feel sympathy for those executed. Tom Cruise in “Valkyrie”? “Breaker Morant”?