Mubarak is ready to “apologize” to the Egyptian people?
I find no words more eloquent in response other than Maximilien Robespierre’s: “To punish the oppressors of humanity is clemency; to forgive them is barbarity.”
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I cannot agree with this statement.
The only brook I have with Anonymous is their statement that they will never forgive.
There is a reason that one of God’s greatest attributes is that He is merciful…
These people should be removed from all positions of power. Yes. It should be made impossible that anyone like them can ever again come to power. Yes.
But punishment is a concept I have a great deal of trouble with. I am not saying they aren’t criminals, but I wouldn’t wish an Egyptian prison on anyone.
They have acted without any measure of compassion, for all these years. The only thing that can separate us from them, is that we are capable of some compassion.
I do not believe that causing anyone any suffering is ‘justice.’
I am so tired of this retribution fever that has taken over Egypt.
There is so much of the regime still to fight, so much of it that is still as insidious as ever.
If this revolution is to be truly successful, we must forget these people, I would simply exile the lot of them, except maybe the worst of the murderers and the torturers. But I would not murder or torture THEM, in any way.
What you do to another, you do to yourself.
It is the very worst of them that needs the greatest healing. (I know this is impractical, improbable and so far away from how most of Egypt feels, but that is precisely why I feel I must say it.) There is a totally different way of looking at this whole thing and that is the point of view that I want to present.
We should not harm ourselves, and Egypt, by trying to do these criminals harm. There is far more important work to do.
Please do not be angry with me for having a very different opinion to your own. I had to speak my mind.
What Suzanne wrote in my mind is Utopian and does more harm than good. I can think of all the suffering the Syrians, Yemeneese, Bahrainis and Lybians are going through in their struggle for freedom and how much leeway you are giving their oppressors knowing quite well that no matter what happens all they are getting is a slap on the wrist which will be their worst case scenario.
Having saying that I am in principle against the death penalty. I live in the U.S. and it is well documented that many innocents (usually poor since the judicial system here only punishes the most vulnerable) were put to death. However, Mubarak and gangs in my mind have to be tried and put in jail if convicted for the rest of their lives. We owe it to every Egyptian and Palestinian victim of that asshole
Hi, Peace.
I believe that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be a better way to heal Egypt than witch hunts.
Ultimately healing is the goal. Heal the country, heal the politics, heal the people.
Egyptian justice, the courts and the prisons, have little or no experience of operating in a fair or humane way. That entire system needs to be overhauled. There is a difference between punishing someone by taking away their freedom, and punishing them by treating them like an animal.
We must meet the highest ideals in our own behaviour, or we only harm ourselves and our cause.
I just think it is understandable that people be in danger of forgetting that.
They brutalised Egypt for over 30 (60) years. It is difficult for brutalised people to not, in turn, behave brutally.
I pray for healing in Egypt.