Scottish compassion
The former Libyan intelligence agent Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi was serving a life sentence in a Scottish prison on 270 counts of murder. Now he is free. Why? The official reason is "compassion". The Scots wish him to die among his own in his own bed, a hero.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said: "I think this is wrong and it's the product of some completely nonsensical thinking, in my view. This man was convicted of murdering 270 people, he showed no compassion to them, they weren't allowed to go home and die with their relatives in their own bed and I think this is a very bad decision."
Asked by a Scot what Johnson thought of Scotland: "That it is a very vile country, to be sure, Sir."
"Well, Sir! (replies the Scot, somewhat mortified), God made it."
Johnson: "Certainly he did; but we must always remember that he made it for Scotchmen, and comparisons are odious, Mr. Smith; but God made hell."
Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson, LL.D. During the Last Twenty Years of His Life by Hester Thrale, published 26 March 1786.
Comments
Agreed, Eamonn: this decision was so morally opaque as to be, in effect, immoral.
I know your inclusion of Dr Johnson's thoughts are tongue-in-cheek (I trust!) but I feel bound to record here that at least one of my Scottish friends was appalled at this release: he apologized to his American Facebook friends.
Posted by: Fin Keegan | August 21, 2009 2:14 PM