Thursday, June 4, 2009

As Jefferson Spins in His Grave



In the land of the free and the home of the brave, they murder innocent men, women and children in the name of truth, justice and the American way.



On Monday, Mohammad Ahmad Abdallah Salih died at Guantanamo Bay. They say he committed suicide. Not so fast. He was held without charges, without bail, without a lawyer and without a trial for seven-and-a-half long years.



What was this man’s crime that he should be banished to the Hell that is Gitmo? Did he kill American soldiers? Was he a terrorist? Was he a Detroit Lions fan? Or was he just Muslim? And why does a Christian nation sit idly by while these kinds of atrocities continue? It’s shameful and sad that people who are alleged followers of JZeus would treat a person this way.



It really doesn’t matter what Salih did. He’s dead and we’ll never know. It matters that, in a country touting itself as the greatest the world has ever seen, we torture, maim and kill innocent people in the name of freedom.



Politicians, zealots and cowards would have you believe that by treating human beings this way, they’re keeping America safe. They lie. By treating human beings this way, we show the world our true nature. Americans aren’t benevolent. Americans aren’t caring and kind. Americans aren’t the holders of the moral high ground. No. Americans are petty…and weak…and scared. Americans are so afraid of “terrorists” that they’re willing to give up basic human rights for the illusion of safety, the illusion of security.




The Declaration of Independence states that “All men are created equal.” It also says that everyone has the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” To ignore those fundamental principles, is to ignore who we should be – to ignore who we could be – to ignore who we are supposed to be. As long as America turns her back on the rule of law, turns her back on the principles she was founded on, turns her back on the fundamental rights of EVERY human being, she’ll continue to show the world just how hypocritical her citizens are. I guess that’s the “new” American way.




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