Hello Readers! There are many things that concern me right now, especially health care reform, the escalating situation in Pakistan, and the way my favorite president just announced that he would ignore a court order to release torture photos.I don't wish to be negative, but when you think about all that's happening the challenges seem almost overwhelming.
Regarding the president, I'm extremely nervous about what's happening. My new favorite president is beginning to look a little like our past - and my least favorite - president. Why would he ignore a court order to release photos of torture when everybody knows we've already done it? I don't get it! Don't the terrorists already have plenty of recruitment tools? I just can't see how national security is threatened. He seems a little Bush-like in this situation, and that terrifies me.
Btw, I do care about the troops and their safety, but I don't buy the argument the photos will make their situation any more dangerous. The troops are already at extreme risk from the policies of the last eight years. Plenty of torture photos are already out there. I think that's some kind of excuse. Respecting our legal system is important too. That's something our troops are fighting and dying for.
If not photos, then how about torture drawings, like the one seen here? Are those banned too Mr. President? Let's be honest, nobody wants those torture photos released, but it's important to respect the legal system. If civil libertarians successfully sued to disclose our sins so that we are forced to learn and heal, then I think the President should respect that decision. It's also important for the military to learn from its mistakes. The generals should not have that kind of power over our system. "National security" as a power should not be abused.
The information is already out there. No matter what you say, we need to respect our legal system. Nobody is above the law.
Thursday's Political Rant #2 - Michael
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