Stickmaker (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stickmaker) wrote2006-09-29 07:06 am
stickmaker) wrote2006-09-29 07:06 am
Oh, the Stupid...
Just heard on the news a soundbite from a Congresscritter who said (paraphrased since I can't remember it exactly, but pretty close) "Torture has always been illegal in this country, so anyone who says this bill authorizes torture doesn't know what they're talking about!"
In every major conflict in which it has been involved, someone representing the US has abused the rights of others, excusing it by saying the victims were either the enemy or were helping the enemy or might help the enemy. And in every case where the abuse was a known by the public and not hidden away (and in many cases where it was initially hidden) their actions were later to be found illegal and history has castigated them.
I partially blame our educational system for not teaching history. I mostly blame lazy minds for avoiding thinking about unpleasant things. Like responsibility and the likelihood of being punished for doing wrong.
The only ray of sunshine I can see in this mess is the speeches by those opposing the torture law. Emotional, noble and very, very determined. They may be in the minority, but at least history will show that not all our politicians were morally bankrupt.
In every major conflict in which it has been involved, someone representing the US has abused the rights of others, excusing it by saying the victims were either the enemy or were helping the enemy or might help the enemy. And in every case where the abuse was a known by the public and not hidden away (and in many cases where it was initially hidden) their actions were later to be found illegal and history has castigated them.
I partially blame our educational system for not teaching history. I mostly blame lazy minds for avoiding thinking about unpleasant things. Like responsibility and the likelihood of being punished for doing wrong.
The only ray of sunshine I can see in this mess is the speeches by those opposing the torture law. Emotional, noble and very, very determined. They may be in the minority, but at least history will show that not all our politicians were morally bankrupt.