I read about this story last week, and it has been in the back of my mind for days now.
One of those things that you just kinda think about for a second during the day until you just shake your head in disgust and move on with your day.
I’m not sure how much this has been on TV news or not… I never watch news on TV…
But, this soldier has been convicted of plotting an attack on an Iraqi family back in 2006. He and his buddies went into a house, raped a 14-year old girl and gunned down mom, dad, 6-year old sister and the defiled child as well.
This soldier is now facing the death penalty for his actions. He will be the first in US history to face death because of crimes committed at war.
However, it’s stories like this that really make me question my stance on the death penalty (me being anti-).
When I read about such a twisted, sick act, everything in my human bones screams “kill him!!!”.
I’ll be the first to say that I know very little about what it feels like to be at war. I’m sure that seeing certain things can really screw up a person’s mind.
So… I’m torn.
Where is grace in situations like this?
Is his sin worse than mine?
Is this soldier’s level of depravity more extreme than mine?
Left to myself… I am capable of doing things more lude and twisted than the worst of people… we all are.
And so I’m back to questioning things again… is his sin worth killing him over? Is it our (society’s) job to pull the trigger?
