I'll come back to this soon when i have more time.
But i should crucially point out that Ben didn't murder over 50 people - the only person he murdered was his father. Seeing as Sawyer and others have been let off for multiple crimes I think the double standards lie not with me nor Ben.
The Dharma purge was not Ben's decision, remember..nor did he partake in the purging - that's pretty much canon..
If you were refering about Ben's "so?" regarding the peeps on the boat, let me ask you..Keamy has just killed your daughter..brutally executed her with a bullet to the head and left her body to rot. you've had to bury said daughter and her blood is still fresh on your hands. Jacob has just shafted you and Keamy is proceeding to taunt you over his execution of your beloved daughter. Now..would you really give two scoops about people on the boat - some of which are Widmore's people out to harm you/the island, and the rest who are too blind too see the bigger picture and watched as Jack pounded your butt into the ground 20 odd days ago?
Sorry, I can totally understand Ben's repsonse here - at that moment in time he was enraged over Keamy's taunts..who in their right mind would not be too enraged to be selfless as that point? I don't think I would have been in th right state of mind to be thinking about Losties who don't give two hoots about my dead daughter..
also, we should be giving Ben credit for actually turning around and apologising for not being able to seperate emotion from logical decisions.
We've all had fits of rage and then turned around and regretted it - Ben's jsut had the most extreme things happen to him..surely we can let him off not putting the boat first. Also, he did alot of good for Sayid and Kate in this episode - yet I don't see anyone championing him. he also helped Locke and fulfilled his final duties with great courage and dignity..imagine what it must have been like for him to have Jacob toss him to one side..imagine what it feels like for a kitten staring down the headlights on an open road. Ben was basically kicked out of his own house - abandoned without a word of thanks or
see you on the other side. He didn't know where he would end up upon turning that wheel, as it was he ended up in Tunisia and had to immediately fight for his life, after puking his poor little guts up. The man is a warrior..he deserves much more credit that he's been given. he's emerged from the season as the silent hero, the man who's done all the work for Locke, the man who's acted with grace and dignity, the man who's suffered immense heart-arch and loss, the man who's been cast aside..the man who was right all along..the man who you all doubted. Yet here he is, still fighting the good fight..rounding up his children as he prepares to take them back home to the promised land.
This is a man who has his flaws, but who doesn't? He has blood on his hands..but who doesn't? This is a man who did his best to minimise the impact on innocents..it was not his fault that Widmore changed the rules. Whilst Widmore swans about like butter wouldn't melt, Ben has had his only child cut from his heart..he put the island first and look what he got in return.
Wouldn't this spark revenge and a momentary loss of composure and perspective in any man, woman or child? Did you not want to see Keamy pay for what he did to my Ben and your Losties? Are we not on the same side? Should we not be beating down Widmore's door and hanging him from the rafters?
We are not the enemy guys...THEY are.
Did our people not let yours go? do we not have common interests?
Let us give Ben his rightful praise and support him, because he represents our only hope of getting back to the island..of saving the island. Let not our personal squabbles blind us of our united destiny.
These are toubled times, and in such times we need a leader such as Ben to show us the way. let us praise him and button up his jacket so thathe stays warm and snug. Let us kiss him on the cheek at night and bring him hot coco.
In all seriousness I made some genuine points..
And I can't understand the 'double standards' claim. Sawyer, for instance didn't kill a man who killed his parents..Ben did. Ben had greater excuse because he didn't kill an "innocent" like Cooper or Duckett, did he.
*Anyway, i don't want to bash Sawyer..him and I are doing good right now, I don't want to destabilise our fragile relationship.
As I said, just a brief reply for now..i'll be back