Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi

So the Scottish Justice Secretary released him on compassionate grounds. There has been no end of criticism for the decision from all over the world.

He was the only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, yet the evidence is up for debate. Many Americans were killed in the disaster, and as such the Americans have been the loudest voice of dissent at the release of al-Magrahi. Terrorists should not be released, they say. Not even on compassionate grounds. That will send out the message that we are weak, they say, and we will be bombed more. We need to be strong, ruthless, damning. These people are terrorists, they don't deserve decency or compassion, they say.

But wait.

We, the West, are one very small step away from announcing to the world that terrorists are not human. That they should be treated differently, as animals, as those who are sub-human, with no rights. What rubbish. What is it we are getting into? For the West to be so forcefully for 'freedom' and 'democracy' when it suits them, yet to assume the role of Divine Judge when it comes to terrorists, stinks of self interest and rotten politics.

Far weaker is the man (read: country) who fights back, condemns men for eternity when it only for the Lord God to pronounce such judgements, and looks upon 'terrorists' as sub-human - unworthy of compassion and forgiveness - than the man (read: country) who has compassion, forgives, blesses their enemies and prays for those who harm them.

For my part, I am in full support of Kenny MacAskill and his decision. War and hate will only breed war and hate. When MacAskill released al-Megarhi, the West took the biggest step to date in defeating terrorism. Forgiveness, compassion, mercy and love will win. The Americans, the English, the rest of the world, need to take note of what has happened in Scotland - a minister stood up for what was right, and continued on that path until what was right was complete, not matter what the consequences were.

Praise the Lord, that he is still at work.

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He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

MP's Expenses: Some Thoughts

For more than two weeks now, the only news item has been MP's expenses (one could wonder what happened to the swine flu pandemic that was about to hit us...perhaps we are more driven by the media than we realise, or care).  

Gordon Brown follows David Cameron again in offering an apology for the scandal with Nick Clegg following quickly behind. 

But what are they actually apologising for?  Is it that they are sinsearly sorry for the misdemeanors? Or are they sorry they have actually got caught.  Cameron apologised for the system - not the abuse of the system.  Is this indicative of our culture - taking blame away from people and placing it onto 'systems'.  Cameron, of course, has acted, which has a lot of guts in the current climate of inaction and excuse.

Let us take a closer look at the problem.

There are two issues:

-The system: a claims system that is far to easy to cheat, and a system that is encouraged by officials to be cheated on.

-The people who have taken advantage of the easy cheat in order to make an easy buck or two.

There was quite a debate on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 10 May where all thought it was wrong but those calling in were split as to whether we should blame the MP's or the system.  "They are just humans..." when one caller, we shouldn't expect anything else!

Which from a Christian point of view is true - we are all sinners.  But is that an excuse?  Perhaps what is more of an issue is that it is the MP's who have created the system that allows them to abuse it.  But is it abuse?  Well, two things: firstly, we have to understand human nature.  When someone in authority tells you that you are able to claim more money than you currently are, and in fact you should be claiming more, how many of us would claim that we could dismiss that temptation out of hand? If we are being realistic, no-one would find it easy.  Secondly, the solution is obvious, but will not win votes.  MP's need to be paid more, it is as simple as that.  But we the public are far too fickle and condemning (especially towards those who we vote in to run our country) that any political leader who champions this cause will find themselves out of a job before they can finish the sentence, 'we need a pay rise'.  But - that is the way forward.  Pay them enough and remove the temptation... some will still abuse whatever system will be in place in a years time, but the majority will not.

We'll have to save the constitutional fiasco regarding the Speaker of the House for another day.