Cowardice
[This is dated, I know, but last week's busyness conspired against posting it sooner.]
"But no one could figure out who was casting the dissenting vote, the foreman said, because that person didn't identify himself during any discussion -- and all the votes were done using anonymous ballots." From Report: Lone juror saved Moussaoui from death.Regardless of one's position on the death penalty, the War on Terror, and 9/11 terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, the lone juror in the Moussaoui trial who hid behind anonymity to prevent a death sentence is a coward. Moussaoui admitted to conspiring to slaughter nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11 -- not to mention provoking the global War on Terror and the massive destruction of vital United States institutions -- and would have been one of the hijackers if he hadn't been previously arrested. If ever the death penalty was appropriate, it was in this case. But one person vetoed the opinion of the remaining eleven jurors and held out for a life sentence. It usually takes profound courage to be the lone anything, especially in such a high profile situation where the eyes of the world are watching. I would have respected someone who opposes the death penalty on principal refusing to apply it even in such a heinous case. But someone who could make such a significant decision on behalf of a nation and not be man or woman enough to stand by it deserves no such respect.
posted by Jeremy Del Rio @ 5/14/2006 10:24:00 PM
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