Last week I began a commentary on what President Elect Obama should focus on during his first 100 days in the Oval Office. I outlined priority number one as getting more liquidity in the credit market. Today we look at priority numeral dos:
2. Close Gitmo...Restore Our Rightful Place in the World
Okay so perhaps the simple closing of one of America's most embarrassing facilities will not restore our global reputation to what it was just a short eight years ago. However, this is a critical first step down that path. It says to the rest of the world that we actually believe and live out the principles that our country was founded on. It does appear just a bit hypocritical to say that we are spreading democracy around the world while not following our own Constitution at home.
Just a reminder to everyone, the aim of terrorist is to alter our way of life, and illustrate that our system of government and law does not work. Well, score one for the terrorist. By holding men prisoners with no access to attorneys and courts, and no real legal rights what are we saying about our country? When we put people on trial before "Special Tribunals" and deny them the right to face their accusers or even see the evidence upon which we convict them then how can we maintain that we are for freedom and justice in the world. I can hear the screams from the Right Wing Wackos already: "You are being Un-American, do you like terrorist, do you want them to kill us?"
No, no, no. Actually I'm not such a big fan of terrorism. This is why I am against giving terrorist what they want. Why let them ruin our system of justice? Do we not have enough faith and confidence in our legal system? This system that has withstood over 200 years of challenges, a Civil War, and two World Wars? Of course it is expedient to jail those with whom we disagree, despotic dictators and Communist Party leaders learned that long ago. Do you really think that after promoting freedom and democracy for over two centuries we should follow the lead of tyrants? In case you need more of an arguement then look at the words of several notable American Statesmen:
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference. " -Thomas Jefferson
and...
"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin
So closing Gitmo is not going to restore our global luster all at once. However, this is a critical first step, which combined with a new approach to foreign policy can insure a safer world for all of us. The use of so called "Smart Power", the idea that foreign policy means more than use of military might. An understanding that it must be accompanied by thoughtful diplomacy and long-term strategy. We need to understand that our actions today have consequences ten, thirty, and fifty years from now. It is time that we start living up to our creed as Americans, we codified the rights of all mankind in our Constitution and no terrorist should ever be able to change that.
2. Close Gitmo...Restore Our Rightful Place in the World
Okay so perhaps the simple closing of one of America's most embarrassing facilities will not restore our global reputation to what it was just a short eight years ago. However, this is a critical first step down that path. It says to the rest of the world that we actually believe and live out the principles that our country was founded on. It does appear just a bit hypocritical to say that we are spreading democracy around the world while not following our own Constitution at home.
Just a reminder to everyone, the aim of terrorist is to alter our way of life, and illustrate that our system of government and law does not work. Well, score one for the terrorist. By holding men prisoners with no access to attorneys and courts, and no real legal rights what are we saying about our country? When we put people on trial before "Special Tribunals" and deny them the right to face their accusers or even see the evidence upon which we convict them then how can we maintain that we are for freedom and justice in the world. I can hear the screams from the Right Wing Wackos already: "You are being Un-American, do you like terrorist, do you want them to kill us?"
No, no, no. Actually I'm not such a big fan of terrorism. This is why I am against giving terrorist what they want. Why let them ruin our system of justice? Do we not have enough faith and confidence in our legal system? This system that has withstood over 200 years of challenges, a Civil War, and two World Wars? Of course it is expedient to jail those with whom we disagree, despotic dictators and Communist Party leaders learned that long ago. Do you really think that after promoting freedom and democracy for over two centuries we should follow the lead of tyrants? In case you need more of an arguement then look at the words of several notable American Statesmen:
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference. " -Thomas Jefferson
and...
"Any people that would give up liberty for a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety." -Ben Franklin
So closing Gitmo is not going to restore our global luster all at once. However, this is a critical first step, which combined with a new approach to foreign policy can insure a safer world for all of us. The use of so called "Smart Power", the idea that foreign policy means more than use of military might. An understanding that it must be accompanied by thoughtful diplomacy and long-term strategy. We need to understand that our actions today have consequences ten, thirty, and fifty years from now. It is time that we start living up to our creed as Americans, we codified the rights of all mankind in our Constitution and no terrorist should ever be able to change that.
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1 comment:
America is facing 3 problems today:
1. The Rich don't give a damn about the others and they milk the American ecomony for thier own selfish purposes. This lead to the current economic crises. The not-so-rich and the American government itself is controlled only by corporate greed and is helpless against this internal enemy. A revolution needs to take place where the hardworking common American needs to find his place in America.
2. Americans have become too lazy and take things for granted. America is what it was because of the hardwork and effort by your grandfather and forefathers. But the current 2-3 generations have been over indulgent and take have lost the killer instinct. The Americans are unable to put the hard effort required to shine in Science, Engineering, Medicine and these fields are now being dominated by non-Americans living in America.
3. The Americans see the Muslim as an enemy, a terrorist. You need to conquer your enemy not by force but by love. With love, in just 1 generation, the Muslims will forget branding America as thier enemy, but with force more and more generations of Muslims will be born who will see America as thier enemy in thier Genes/DNA self.
America can only blame itself for its present crises. Maybe Obama could be the spark that may ignite the change...
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