hanging saddam

cnn has a little video on its website today, in which a female reporter interviews people on the street to see if: a) they watched the video, apparently shot with a cell phone, of saddam hussein's death by hanging; and b) if so, if they felt guilty about it. several people said they wouldn't watch it because people shouldn't be watching it; the moment of death is private and should be treated with respect. several others said, "hell yeah i watched, and the bastard got what he deserved." i could envision them cheering while the blue flickering light of the computer screen washed across their faces. a few said, "yes, i watched. i didn't expect to feel guilty or uneasy about it, but i really did." one woman said watching it has made her re-think her pro-death penalty stance.

i don't know how i feel about it. i will say that i haven't watched the video. i was not surprised to see it circulating, but i haven't looked at it and i don't intend to. i watched the "official" video of the moments leading up to the execution, in which the hangmen put a noose around saddam hussein's neck--that upset me enough, and i am already queasy about the death penalty, without watching a hanging. i think watching the "unofficial" video probably would make me feel guilty, or at least a species of guilt. part of me thinks videos like this should not ever be available--it basically reinstates public executions. another part of me thinks...well, if seeing video like that can make people re-think a pro-death penalty stance, then maybe it's worth it. people should see the uncomfortable, unpleasant, but factual truth about things that are basically being done in their names. but then i see the cheerleaders, and how the public spectacle of a death like saddam's feeds bloodlust and warmongering.

my gut feeling is that the video shouldn't be shown--and that it shouldn't have been filmed to begin with. but maybe that's just because i don't want to see it. as with most things, public ethics is a complex, sticky business, and response is so varied that it can't really serve as a basis for an ethic anyway. so what are we left with?

i'm feeling rather down today. still working for the union, doing nothing but research this week, and it's got me feeling very isolated, socially. the new quarter started yesterday, and i'm not on campus.

i really miss teaching.

P.S. (added later) in other news, the only (known) remaining copy of steve irwin's death from a stingray barb has been handed over to his widow, thereby "ensuring the gruesome footage will never make it onto YouTube." (citing this article.) the coincidence of these stories is fascinating.

P.P.S. i just got an email notifying me that sandra gilbert (of madwoman in the attic fame, along with susan gubar) is coming to seattle to talk about her new book, death's door: modern dying and the ways we grieve.)