Obtuse Vision

Whilst the critic's arguments are sound [1], its a little difficult to analyse anything based on a single hadith (or even several individual ahadith). We have no context, no understanding of implications...nothing. All we know is the immediate story (which is a 'mere' 1400 years old) and from that a conclusion is being derived that Al-Amin was barbaric.

Let's apply this obtuse logic in a more modern setting...Pre-WWII Europe (only 70 years ago).

1. Pre-WWII Europe was powered by Enlightenment
2. Pre-WWII Europe was THE global power
3. Pre-WWII Europe was the MOST civilised and sophisticated peoples in Human History
4. Pre-WWII Europe is the origins of MOST Americans. Therefore USA is essentially European
5. Pre-WWII Europe was responsible for:
a. The Holocaust in which tens of millions of innocent civilians were slaughtered in the most brutal ways possible
b. WWII which claimed the lives of 100 million+ lives

Conclusion: Europeans are the MOST murderously barbaric nation in human history

Using obtuse logic can lead us to er...interesting conclusions. That's why thorough analysis is required BEFORE arriving at ANY conclusion.

References:
1. http://www.kactuzkid.com/excuses.html