Ford tough, Saddam gets tough deal
Former U.S. president Gerald Ford passed away recently at the ripe old age of 93, after a long battle with illness. Being a history buff, I had absolutely admired this man for the bold decisions he took at a time where democracy was bearing the brunt of scandal. In fact, as has been noted in the news, his decision to pardon President Nixon cost Ford his presidency, but in fact saved the democratic fabric of the U.S.A.
Many miles away in Baghdad, another former president, Saddam Hussein, was recently executed in the gallows. The former Iraqi dictator was hanged by masked men in a most undignified manner. To make matters worse, the video of his execution was made public by one of the people there at the time. Both men were presidents but their deaths were dealt with so differently. Gerald Ford got a well-deserved state funeral, while Saddam was unceremoniously executed. It took me some time to get used to this dichotomy. We live in a world that is far from perfect, even though another year has passed by.
Amartaj Parmar
