Saddam Hanging Video Morbidly Fascinates
AMERICA SEEMS TO GET OFF WATCHING ITS ENEMIES DIE, AND HEADLINE OF THIS POST MAY OR MAY NOT BE WRITTEN IN IAMBIC PENTAMETER
FITSNews – December 31, 2006 - Apparently, a goodly number of our colleagues in the blogosphere are tripping over themselves to post video clips of the Saddam Hussein execution. Just click on any of the links in that last sentence to see what we mean.
Mainstream networks like CNN and NBC are vowing to use discretion in showing the footage of the execution, but let’s be honest – nothing gets TV anchorpeople off quite like staring into the camera with an especially concerned look on their face and saying “the images you are about to see are shocking, graphic and disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.” And nothings gets TV executives off quite like watching their anchorpeople do that.
Death, like sex, sells ads.
The appetite for visual confirmation of Saddam Hussein’s hanging obviously extends far beyond merely confirming the fact that the former dictator is dead.
In some cases, it’s just morbid curiosity – the need to take a quick peek before turning away, kind of like people rubbernecking when they pass a car crash on the Interstate.
In other cases, though, it’s morbid voyeurism of a more vengeful nature – not unlike the kind showed by former German dictator Adolf Hitler in 1944.
Hitler, who miraculously survived an assassination attempt on July 20, 1944 at his Wolf’s Lair headquarters in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, went to remarkable lengths to savor the demise of those who had plotted against him.
Dozens of participants in the failed coup were sentenced to death by hanging, and Hitler had them strung up on the gallows using piano wire. Every execution was videotaped and photographed, and Hitler held special screenings of the executions for the amusement of his dinner guests.
Classy, right?
Don’t get us wrong – we are glad Saddam Hussein is dead, much as we are glad whenever anyone bites the dust who made a living gassing babies and killing, maiming and imprisoning political opponents by the thousands.
Let’s just keep Karma from biting us in the ass too badly by enjoying the Saddam execution video in moderation.
