Voice of Dissent

How Are We Different?

The unlawful use of torturing detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, Gitmo, and elsewhere is appalling. The Bush Administration continues to thumb its ultra-conservative nose at International law and condones torturing these detainees in the name of "war on terror". The press has gone mute since the photos from Abu Graib were released and the American public has gone soft as a result. The military cannot effectively investigate or prosecute any incidences of abuse because conflicts of interest. We as a nation are left with a wartime policy of torture and abuse that rivals only China as blatant abuses of human rights. What makes us different from the Chinese? Perhaps because our cause is righteous? I think not. Perhaps because we are at war against terrorists? What of the laws and rules spelled out in the Geneva Convention articles? Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld are no better than Mao, Stalin, or Saddam. The tactics that Bush allows-even though he will deny that-are just as heinous as the human rights violations we as a nation condemn in other countries. We impose trade sanctions against North Korea for human rights issues. We cry out against apartheid in South Africa only to fall into the same type of torture and inhumane treatments that we once bemoaned. How, as a supposed Christian nation can we stand by silently allowing our elected officials to basically get away with murder? I for one will not support any future canidate-Democrat or otherwise-who will not take a stance against the abuses of power currently in effect. It is time that we demand accountability of our government. No longer can it be allowed to run unchecked and seemingly immune to any laws of any land.

posted by TGreen @ 9:31 PM