The Passing of Saddam Hussein and Gerald R. Ford and New Year 2007

© Dr. Gary D. Lemmons, December 31, 2006

They hung him.

Saddam Hussein, once the “king of terror,” who ruled Iraq with an iron hand for over 30 years, went to the gallows with “fear in his face.”  One wonders if, as his moment to step off into eternity approached, this monster had any recollection of the thousands of Iraqi that he dispatched to the world beyond during his brutal and evil reign.

It is altogether fitting and proper, I believe, that the Iraqi government acted to terminate this vermin’s life prior to the ending of 2006, a year already mired by the blood of so many Iraqi, who have been victims of the insurgency, and hundreds of American troops, who have been wounded or who have died in the prosecution of this war.

Given the elections here in the United States last November, given the commitment of President Bush to launch a “new approach” to deal with the Iraqi situation, and given the even more daunting challenges we face in a very dangerous world, it seems to me that 2007 will dawn with one less piece of garbage to dispose of…namely… Saddam Hussein.

There are many, far better with words than me, who will comment upon the legacy of Saddam Hussein.  Clearly, brutality and destruction will be a big part of his memory.  However, in his final hour, Saddam left a lesson for all leaders from whatever country or society on the globe…“live according to the law and forget not that, if you violate human rights, you can and will be held accountable.”  Leaders from the Americas to Africa to Asia and all the points in between should remember that lesson.

This past week also saw the passing of the only President of the United States to have NEVER been elected by the people either to that office or to the Vice Presidency…Gerald R. Ford, Jr.

How different the legacy of this good and decent man.

Former President Ford came to power at one of the darkest points in American history.  He clearly understood that he possessed no mandate from the American people, yet he realized that he must function as the nation’s chief executive if our Constitution was to have any meaning and carry any force.  He did his job well.  He faced and made the hard decisions within the law, and, although, his actions angered many Americans to the point that, when he attempted to be elected to office on his own in 1976, he was defeated by James Earl Carter, time and history have demonstrated that President Ford’s decisions led to the proper course of action for our nation through those difficult years.

As we say good-bye to these great men…Hussein, greatly evil, and Ford, greatly good…it is well that we turn to the New Year.  2007 holds much promise but much danger as well.  Hopefully, our current Republican President and the new Democratic controlled 110^th Congress will realize that the American people are depending upon them to set aside partisan politics and to work together on the varied problems facing the post-modern world. 

It is quite likely that much of the year will be focused upon the upcoming Presidential election in 2008.  That is tragic.  The Congress and our current President have more important things to consider.  Two years is too long to wait to grapple with health care, the cost of energy, the issue of illegal immigration, not to mention continued threats from Iran, North Korea, and the terrorist organizations of Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda.

Hopefully, elected leaders from the most local levels to the state region to the national scene will remember that in a republic they should “serve” more than they “lead.”

We shall see.

From the Mid-South Philosopher and Miss Debbie to all of you a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year!