Was Tebbit right to say "No"?

Question

Norman Tebbit refused to take part in a BBC 'reunion' with the IRA bomber who left his wife paralysed:

"I wrote telling them the only reunion I'd be happy to attend was the one where Magee was reunited with a bomb"

I don't care if you think he was a member of Evil Thatcher's Cabinet, surely it was totally morally bankrupt for the BBC to make such a sick request?

I think this reaches out to the wider issue of whether or not these murderers should have been lined up and shot, rather than set free - a sentiment Tebbit himself has expressed publicly aswell as privately.

What do you think?

Answer 1

I loathed and despised Tebbit as a politician and as a man.
But as a human being he had every right to react in the way he did to this utterly insensitive request.
I'm all for the 'truth and reconcilliation' approach, if it enables us all to put the more evil events of the past behind us.But people are entitled to their feelings,and if someone had crippled one of my loved one's- I would probably feel exactly the same as Norman Tebbit.
And that's a phrase I never thought I'd catch myself using.

Answer 2

I've got no sympathy for Tebbit or his political views but refusing to meet the man responsible for crippling his wife and almost killing him is entirely understandable. The BBC should have known better than to suggest such a meeting.

Answer 3

Yes Tebbit was right not to take part in a reunion
but what makes it all the more sick is Tony Blair forgave
MAGEE and his murderous mates
MCGUINESS--ADAMS--KELLY
through the good Friday agreement now the murderous
B-------S share power in ulster then Blair backed Bush to hunt down SADDAM HUSSEIN who was no danger to the protestants of the UNITED KINGDOM

Answer 4

I very much disliked the man, but frankly, if I had been in his situation and people I was so close to had been seriously injured or killed, I would find such a request for a reunion to be despicable.

Answer 5

why should he want to sit in the same room as someone who tried to take his life, nearly took his wife's life, and countless others? i think he was right to say no. even if he was an average joe on the street he would be right to say no. the bbc are deplorable for even thinking of doing it let alone trying to follow it through. its immoral and unethical to suggest it. good for tebbit.

Answer 6

The Ira members should have been shot for treason.

Answer 7

perfectly right! at the end of the day all terrorists are murderers, being "nice" now doesnt change or forgive the crimes of the past