like liquid hot magma
<< Sep 18, 2007 @ 12:49 >>
How can people not be angry? Due process of law has been systematically removed in this country.
Federal agents can monitor an American without notifying a court that they are doing so.
Next, federal agents can arrest an American, without charges. They can prevent this person from challenging their detention in court. They can fly this person to a prison in a foreign country.
Finally, federal agents can use a variety of interrogation techniques on this American in order to break them. Until apparently a few days ago this included water boarding, where you feel as though you will drown. Other methods include nudity, sleep depravation, continuous 24/7 loud audio, and so on.
Those who have no problem with this would use the talking point that "we need to do this in order to extract timely information from terrorists in order to potentially save thousands of lives."
What if we do this to an American who is innocent? What if the government makes just one single mistake, and does this to one innocent person? Is it worth it? Is it worth it if it was you? Your brother? Your dad? Your friend? Your sister? Your mother? A stranger?
Is it ok if the American is an immigrant?
Is it ok if it is NOT an American, but the person is still INNOCENT?
How many of you recognize the following statement: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal"
That's from the United States Declaration of Independence. When that was written, the USA did not exist. People from many countries were living on the North American continent in a British colony when that was written. It doesn't say, nor did it mean, "all American Citizens are created equal."
If it isn't acceptable to torture an American Citizen, it is hypocritical and directly contradicts these founding words of the USA to torture foreign nationals.
See next the 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution, in our Bill of Rights:
"Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
If all men as created equal, as the very document that declared us as an independent nation proclaims, then surely all of us deserve protection from cruel and unusual punishment.
If you believe in torture, or if you believe torture is ok so long as it isn't an American the government is torturing, IT IS YOU WHO ARE UNAMERICAN. IT IS YOU WHO ARE UNPATRIOTIC.
Terrorism does not have the power to directly destroy the USA. We're too big. We're too strong. We're too spread out. We have too many resources. Only we can destroy ourselves by letting the terrorists control us. To quote Colin Powell:
"What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves."
Why is the government's and the media's message one of fear and failure rather than one of strength, courage, and triumph over evil?