The Death of a Dictator
By John Petkus

Over the course of Christmas break the world witnessed a never before seen event in world history.  A brutal dictator was executed by those very same people who he had subjected to executions and torture in the times of his presidency.   Saddam Hussein was hung by an Iraqi court at 6:10 Baghdad time on December 30, 2006.   For better or for worse, he is dead.
Millions around the globe protested his execution as revenge and claimed that he was being made a martyr and a symbol for terrorists everywhere.   Many feared that the long time President of Iraq was far more dangerous as a symbol to inspire future terrorists then he ever was in life, in control of Iraq.   Killing him would create a new race of terrorists angry at his death and ready to fight for his memory.
Others protested his death on the grounds of the death penalty.  If we kill the person who kills, how are we any better then the murderer in the first place?   How do we show ourselves to be good decent and moral people if we condone killing of anyone, regardless of what he or she has done?   It seems to defeat the purpose of bringing peace and stability to a reason to then go about killing those who caused it to be unstable and non-peaceful in the first place.
Millions more around the world took a completely different viewpoint.   They opened their eyes that morning and turned on the news, and learned about the hanging, with a sense of peace and joy overwhelming them.   Justice was accomplished.    The dictator, who held the worlds attention for so many years and was the secret and open fear of the majority of Iraqis, was never coming back.   He was dead.   Within Iraq itself many citizens took to the streets to rejoice and celebrate.   
While the debate continues in the United States over whether or not the execution was the best move or not, there is no going back now.   Saddam Hussein is no longer here on earth and one can only hope that his not being around promises a brighter tomorrow for us all.

