Is killing ever justified? What about in the course of conflict or war? What sort of example does eye for an eye justice set?
These are a few of the questions La Crosse students, professors and community members wrestled with at an informal discussion session.
Professor Heidi Morrison said, “Here in the academic environment--one of the benefits of being here is that you can take time to process and think and collect and gather information. This process is essential if we want to have educated responses to world events.”
Morrison and the more than 40 people who joined the session watched along with the rest of the world as President Obama announced Sunday night that a US Navy Seal Team had killed the man who claimed responsibility for countless terrorist acts.
“We are once again reminded that America can do anything we set our mind to,” Obama said in his Sunday night address.
They saw the jubilant celebrations that followed--seas of people chanting “USA!” But they wondered whether that--and the numerous rallies supporting this retribution--was the right reaction.
“I see that they do have a lot of questions, particularly about the way international law works and the international criminal court and how you try a war criminal. I think there needs to be a lot more discussion on that,” said Morrison.
She suggested having discussions about important historical events like this with friends, family or colleagues. Morrison said all too often people may see and hear the news without asking questions.
