Two Moral Questions

The release of Mr Al Megrahi has triggered a number of thoughts and reactions by me. My reactions have been firstly a sense of pride in the Scottish Government and justice system that tempered justice with mercy and compassion. My second reaction is disappointment at the reaction of politicians both in Scotland and further afield who have condemned our Justice Secretary's decision.

On reflection I came up with two questions that seem to me to underpin a morally appropriate stance towards the decision to release Megrahi. The first question is to do with how to act personally in a situation requiring a moral judgement. It is very much a simple reframing of the Golden Rule and is as follows: If I were to find myself in similar circumstances how would I wish to be treated? Applying this rule would seem to me to favour the release of Megrahi.

The second question is to do with how to judge the reaction of others and reads; Knowing what I think I know about X how would I expect X to act in a given set of circumstances? If I apply this question to the American families of the the victims of the Lockerbie bombing; President Obama; and the Scottish Labour and Liberal Democratic parties, I find myself understanding fully the reaction of the American families of the victims but disappointed in Obama and in the Scottish Labour and Liberal Democratic parties. That is because I had expectations of the latter of taking the moral high ground rather than politically opportunistic or populist positions. They have failed to meet these expectations.