They don't get it, do they?

It's old news but I wanted to register my shock. The IRA offer to execute the men involved in a murder. It just seemed like an offer from the Mafia to 'hit' troublemakers. It seems like gangsterism putre and simple and I'm amazed they thought that it would be alright. But then I realised that they have in effect set themselves up as a police force in rebublican areas and partially been accepted as such and so they were presumably offering more of the same the difference being that now, perhaps, people are seeing it as a corrupt organisation in some local areas and would rather have the rule of law than kangaroo courts. It's a reminder of the importance of due process and the ability to scrutinise and hold accountable such processes to avoid injustice and miscarriages. It reminds us to to be vigilent about issues of legitimacy. What is legitimate in God's eyes is surely not arbitrary human authority upheld by fear and threat but justice upheld by consent... but then Romans 13 ... the conditions for fairness and justice need to be upheld and we should be supportive of that. However we should also support making sure that justice and fairness are continually defended and expanded. ny system taht promises that is better than one which doesn't.
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | IRA offered to shoot McCartney killers