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How Low We Have Fallen

by: Guest Author

Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 11:00:00 AM EST

In a recent report from the AP, we learn America is now listed with many other countries including

Israel, Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Syria as places where inmates could face torture.

Administration spokespersons were quick to deny any allegations that the US engages in torture and to protest the inclusion of the US on the list.

At the same time other reports tell the tale of Tom Ridge, first administrator of the Department of Homeland Security as he characterizes waterboarding as torture saying

And I believe, unlike others in the administration, that waterboarding was, is - and will always be - torture. That's a simple statement.

Guest Author :: How Low We Have Fallen

From that same Ridge article comes the following quote.

Waterboarding is a harsh interrogation tactic that was used by CIA officers in 2002 and 2003 on three alleged al-Qaida terrorists. The tactic gives the subject the sensation of drowning.

The evidence of CIA use of strong interrogation measures that amount to torture by most reasonable definitions is clear. A series of memos demonstrate the government position on treatment of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world. The Geneva Conventions were ruled not to apply. Prisoners are held in places like Guantanamo Bay where legal rules of the Constitution are not enforced.

ManilaRyce, Flickr, Creative Commons

How much longer will Americans tolerate this standard to which we have fallen? Can America survive as a nation let alone a world leader so long as we continue to allow the mistreatment of persons under our control?

The time has come to end this fall from grace. We, the American people must stand up and speak out and return our country to the Constitutional government of our Founders. We each and every one deserve to live in a nation bounded by liberty and justice for all. Nothing less will do.

Peace.

Tags: Northington Notes, Constitution, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Iraq, Geneva Conventions, Department of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, Detainees, Inmates, Human Rights, Torture, Terrorism, Central Intelligence, CIA, Possum, Jerry Northington, Guest Author, (All Tags)

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How Low We Have Fallen | 6 comments

No More!!! (10.50 / 2)

Dear Jerry:
I participated in an action at the Chicago federal center building plaza on January 11, 2008.

This was an anti torture demonstration on the anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay for 'enemy combatant" prisoners.
Unfortunately in a city of millions less than one hundred showed up. Torture is done in our names. We and only we can stop it. We must speak loudly to each other and to our elected officials. No more torture in my name, or in the name of America.

We ignore the Geneva Convention; deny access to counsel and the Red Cross. Why?

We are afraid!!!

Fear is used to convince us if we do not torture, the terrorists will come here and hurt us. Little do we realize that by our very actions we have become terrorists!!!!

We need to understand. What we put out into the world can and will come back to us. What kind of world do we want? One where we must be constantly afraid or one where we learn to talk with others and learn to listen to each other in order to mutually solve problems to the benefit of all!

Peace
Bob

by: bob @ Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 17:33:55 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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Thank you, Bob, for having taken action. (9.00 / 2)

The US leads the world today as a bully and no longer an example to be followed for goodness and justice. If people could learn to see one another as human beings, no matter the skin color, the eye color, the language, or the sex, we'd be so much better off in the end.

Fear is the biggest driving force in our nation today. The fear card is played around every corner by every politician in leadership positions today. The one thing we should fear most today is fear itself. Our actions are making us less and less safe day by day.

Peace.

Northington for Congress

by: possum @ Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 19:15:08 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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I thank you and say Amen! (10.00 / 1)

Dearest Bob . . .

I thank you and say Amen!

We ignore the Geneva Convention; deny access to counsel and the Red Cross. Why?
We are afraid!!!
Fear is used to convince us if we do not torture, the terrorists will come here and hurt us. Little do we realize that by our very actions we have become terrorists!!!!
We need to understand. What we put out into the world can and will come back to us. What kind of world do we want? One where we must be constantly afraid or one where we learn to talk with others and learn to listen to each other in order to mutually solve problems to the benefit of all!

It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

Betsy L. Angert

BeThink

by: Betsy L. Angert @ Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 18:43:14 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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My sadness and shame for our government's actions (9.00 / 2)

continue to increase day by day. Will we as a nation awaken one day to find the nightmare ended? Or are we doomed to continued downward movment?

Peace.

Northington for Congress

by: possum @ Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 19:16:18 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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"The sky is falling." (10.00 / 1)

Dear Possum . . .

I am less and less hopeful. Yesterday I was bombarded by mails.

Many ask me not to vote for principles, but to endorse a candidate who is electable, even though the Big Three are each tied to profiteers. I felt as a lone Chicken Little. "The sky is falling. The sky is falling." People say they have heard that before and while they believe it to be true, an umbrella will protect them. Meanwhile . . . as another shared

Forced Loyalty Oath Locks Out Kucinich

"Chain, chain, chain ..." The Texas Primary
Michael Collins
"Scoop" Independent News
Washington, D.C.
Dennis Kucinich may not win the Democratic nomination for president, but he's leaving a pro-democracy legacy across the country. To begin with, this candidate actually discusses critical issues demonstrating his respect for voters. With regard to the voters' right to know, he just asked for the first recount in memory for a presidential primary simply because it makes perfect sense. The New Hampshire results need a serious second look.
Kucinich struck another blow for democracy by challenging the restrictive loyalty oath required by the Texas Democratic Party to get on the primary ballot. He actually reads the contracts he signs. When presented with the loyalty oath required to run as a Democrat in the Texas primary, Kucinich prudently edited the document to reflect the requirements of free citizens living in a democracy:
Snip
The concern expressed by Kucinich was simple. If the eventual Democratic nominee supports the Iraq War, signing this oath would require Kucinich to support that nominee and therefore the war. To make matters worse, supporting the war would negate his duty as a Member of Congress to protect and uphold the Constitution. Like a few others, Kucinich knows that this is an unconstitutional war since it was never declared by Congress (See Article I, Section 8, "To declare war"). What other choice did he have but to reject the loyalty oath? What justification did the other candidates have to accept the oath?
Full story: http://www.scoop. co.nz/stories/ HL0801/S00152. htm
Peace

It is only the giving that makes us what [who] we are. ~ Ian Anderson. Jethro Tull

Betsy L. Angert

BeThink

by: Betsy L. Angert @ Tue Jan 22, 2008 at 18:39:53 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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American politics today is all about personalities and not much about the people. (9.00 / 1)

So few politicians pretend to represent the voters of the nation while many represent the power base of established systems. We, the voters, lose on so many counts in this system. We need major reform of our electoral system before we will see any end to the entrenched politicians driven by corporate greed. I yearn for the day when government of, by, and for the people can be restored.

Peace.

Northington for Congress

by: possum @ Wed Jan 23, 2008 at 14:47:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]