I don't particularly like country music, but during news cycles like these I am reminded of Toby Keith's "Beer for my Horses" song(caution: the link is for the song not the cheesy video that accompanies it). Here's a part of it:

Grandpappy told my pappy, back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he done
Take all the rope in texas
Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys
Hang them high in the street for all the people to see that

Justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys
You got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles well sing a victory tune
Well all meet back at the local saloon
Well raise up our glasses against evil forces
Singing whiskey for my men, beer for my horses

I once had a friend who told me that he would vote Republican except that he sees a contradiction between our "love for the unborn and love for the death penalty."

I'll admit that I hate killing but love justice. Upon hearing of Saddam Hussein's hanging (viewable here and here and millions of other places), I was saddened because his life was no more "valuable" than mine. He was created in the image of God and we took his life.

Sometimes the value of human life seems to contradict with love of justice. How can we defend taking life? Guilt is a very real and serious thing. It's a tough balance--sometimes more than others. While only God can deploy justice perfectly, government is instituted for the people as a tool of justice and defense.

I won't join in with those who enjoy the pornographisation (HT: Brutally Honest) of the hanging, but I will celebrate that justice has been served to a guilty man.