Is there any moral difference between the 9/11 hijackers and Paul Hill?

[Walt Starr]

Seriously, isn't Paul Hill an example of the same type of fundamentalist wackjob terrorist as the fundamentalist Islamist wackjobs who expected "great rewards in heaven" after their murderous deeds?

Really, the only difference I see is in the number of people murdered in the name of religious fundamentalism.

[Fenris]

1. Not morally different

The only difference is the number killed.

And also, the 9/11 highjackers were brave (if you can call it that) enough to die right there, on the spot. Hill has been trying to get his sorry ass off of death row for years.

[slackmaster]

5. I don't equate willingness to die with superior morality

Not at all. They're all assholes.

[Fenris]

11. Well neither do I

I just think there's a slight procedural difference.

[TXlib]

7. one point

Hill has been trying to get his sorry ass off of death row for years.

According to the CNN article I posted below:

"Hill never denied the shooting and filed only the mandatory appeal in Florida Supreme Court. He dismissed his attorneys long ago."

[Fenris]

10. I stand corrected

*

[zoidberg]

16. I saw on CNN that he really hasn't been fight the system

There is a mandatory appeal in all death penalty cases, but since then he dropped his lawyers and hasn't filed any more appeals. I could have heard it wrong, but it seems like he it taking the death sentence like a man.

[slackmaster]

2. Yes, they are morally equivalent

Totally against one of the fundamental values on which this country was founded: Tolerance of other peoples' beliefs.

[TXlib]

3. Only difference I see is scale

And I'm sure Hill would have killed more had he the means.

---

Abortion doctor's killer welcomes execution

[Caution]

4. None at all

Killed innocents in the name of a cause in an attempt to martyr himself and to enflame the population. I still dont think they should execute him. Life in prison is punishment enough.

[meegbear]

6. Saw part of his "news conference" ...

smiling away ... "can't wait to die".

Sad the media even did that ... wonder if Jeb will pull a * and mock him after he dies?

[demnan]

8. All of them are

crazy as hell. No offense to the religious, but that is sometimes what happens to crazy people who believe too strongly in religion.

[Walt Starr]

14. If it wasn't religion, it would be somethng else

It was the same with all of the anti Dungeons and Dragons tripe years ago. Wackjobs will be wackjobs over something or other, it matters not whether it's religion, D&D, Monopoly, or anything else. Wackjobs will still be wackjobs.

[Booberdawg]

9. Agree

No maral difference. They are both fanatic wackos.

[realFedUp]

12. Agree

.
Same as Tim McVeigh or David Koresh.

[jmm]

13. No

Both of them have warped the teachings of their religions in an attempt to support their fanatical beliefs and they both think they're above the law.

[Homer12]

15. He's a Christian, so he's morally correct (sarcasm).

[wickerwoman]

17. I'm not sure if we've established the 9/11 hijackers motivations

to draw this comparison clearly.
I see the point you are making, but attributing the events of 9/11 simply to religious fundamentalism doesn't quite sit right with me.
After all, they weren't attacking churches- they were attacking symbolic military and economic targets. I've always felt that the motivation was connected more to post-colonial "Western" policy in the Middle-East and Asia than to simply religious difference. I think we're playing into the right's hand when we simplify it to this (even when the purpose is to point out Hill's insanity and the hypocrisy of the right.)

[LoneStarLiberal]

18. He Is A Wingnut. He Should NOT Be Executed.

Here is a nice domestic example of why we should not have capital punishment in this country. Paul Hill is a disgusting piece of trash who will rot in Hell (even I as an agnostic feel this) when he dies.

The very last thing in the world the state of Florida needs to do is murder him. Murdering him turns him into a martyr.

Captial punishment has proven that it is only good for murdering innocent people and turning others into martyrs for fundie wingnut causes. Take the militia crowd who think McVeigh is a "martyred American patriot" for example. If you locked that terrorist away for life no one would remember him. You have removed him from society and have given those who have eulogized and martyred him NOTHING to hold up. The same thing will happen with Paul Hill. His name will become synonymous with "dying for the cause" and "paying the ultimate price" for militant murdering anti-choicers.

By executing him, Florida will be making a grave mistake.

We need to quit allowing our state and federal governments to murder people. It simply does not provide justice in any way, shape, or form.

[CO Liberal]

19. The 9/11 Hijackers Faced Mecca To Pray

Paul Hill faces Pat Robertson to pray.