"If we condone the execution of Amrozi bin Nurhasyim,...

"If we condone the execution of Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, we become no better than any others who employ death as a means to an end," wrote Rob Talbot in response to the death sentence handed down to Bali bomber Amrozi. "The eternal cycle of payback and retribution will continue through us. Not only will we make a martyr of him, but we will make murderers of ourselves through association with the process. Only the uncivilised countries of this world still use capital punishment and I include the United States in that statement. The tenets of the Koran, the Torah and the Old Testament link the three monotheistic religions that sprang from the Middle East, but the addition of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus are what separate Christianity from Islam and Judaism. We are supposed to be a country that upholds Christian principles, as our Prime Minister has reminded us on more than one occasion and yet there he is telling us he supports the death sentence handed down by the judge in Indonesia. The man is a hypocrite. "An eye for an eye" was never a part of Christian teaching and anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian and only applies the Old Testament to that set of beliefs has missed the point. As Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." This is true. If we support the death penalty imposed on Amrozi, then we perpetuate the problem, we are blind to what we are doing in the long run and we are settling for the dubious satisfaction that comes from revenge. We do not in any way solve the problem. We should leave uncivilised behaviour to uncivilised people and try to influence them by remaining on the higher ground. Just think about it. If we applied Christian principles, and forgave him, but left him in prison until the end of his days for the good of all, it would strike a blow to him and to his comrades greater than anything else we could do to him. They commit atrocities against us because they think themselves better than us, holier, closer to God, and what do we do? We behave just like them. We hate them, we discriminate against them and we make plans to kill them. Isn't that just what they do?"