* not coming to Scotland; no American should
Posted by Lew Weinstein on August 24, 2009
email to Scottish Tourist Bureau … info@visitscotland.com
My wife and I had planned a trip to Scotland next month.
We will not be coming …
… unless there is a full apology and the immediate resignation of First Minister Alex Salmond who made the disgraceful decision to release the mass murderer of so many innocent Americans (and Scots). I’m sure all of those murdered by Abdel Baset al-Megrahi would have welcomed the opportunity to spend a little more time with their loved ones before they died. They didn’t get that time, and neither should the man who murdered them.
If it turns out that there was any commercial or political deal behind the release, no apology will suffice, and Scotland will be off our list forever.
I will be posting this email to our travel blog which has a substantial following.
LEW WEINSTEIN
ThursdaysGirl said
Lew I am not sure that the it is constructive or appropriate to boycott Scotland because you disagree with their judicial system, which to me seems to offer compassion over vengeance. If anything it may be more instructive to go on the trip and talk to the Scottish people and see where they are coming from.
Just a thought.
ThurdaysGirl
ThursdaysGirl.wordpress.com
Lew Weinstein said
THURSDAYS GIRL
Your comment has merit. There is a value to compassion.
But in this case, consider the consequences of such compassion. A terrorist mass murderer is released by Scottish authorities so he can spend his last days with his family. He is given a hero’s welcome in Libya. What impact do you think this has on other terrorists? Do you think some twisted angry person would conclude that Scotland was a pretty goos place to carry out a terrorist attack? How much worse will this story get if we learn that an oil deal between Scotland and Libya is concluded in the next several months or year?
I would argue strongly for the right of anyone, even a convicted terrorist, to appeal his conviction. I know too much about false convictions achieved by fabricated or withheld evidence. In fact I wrote a novel about just that; A GOOD CONVICTION tells the story of a young man convicted of murder by a NYC prosecutor who knew he was innocent. It happens.
But releasing the man! I think it was wrong, and I think Scotland should suffer consequences, approbation and economic.