Somali pirates, says Jacob Stolt-Nielsen, founder of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd., one of Norway's biggest shipping companies, should be executed on the spot. Not arrested, not tried, simply sunk on their boats with all hands on board. Since articulating this opinion in the op-ed of a Norwegian financial newspaper a couple of days ago, Stolt-Nielsen has endured intense criticism. His view has been denounced as "barbaric." Business associates have taken pains to disassociate themselves from him. Norway, like most of Europe, does not even have the death penalty.
In my own opinion, fighting and killing an armed assailant is certainly justifiable--but once he's got cuffs around his wrists and cannot harm you, the moral rules have very obviously changed. The friend of mine who brought this story to my attention disagrees. Pirates should be killed so as to discourage others from undertaking piracy. He even urged me to consider Jacob Stolt-Nielsen for the Scandinavian 78.
Jacob Stolt-Nielsen's petition for acceptance on the Scandinavian 78 is declined. Gods help us if he ever belongs there!
No comments:
Post a Comment