What can be done to make this country safe? Bring back the Constitutional core and with it, the rights to all people, whether they are thought to be "dangerous" or not, whether they are thought to be "terrorists" or not, let our freedom ring once more.
To allow our civil liberties to die like this, slowly, in the name of the "Fight on Terrorism" is one of the saddest things to see in my lifetime. To know that a human being can be held indefinitely, and can be tortured under the legal protection of my government, and this is being done to "make me safe" does not at all make me feel safe. It rather makes my skin crawl. Who is to say that in 20 years, the person being detained indefinitely will not be ME? Who is to say the person being "interrogated with enhanced techniques" in 25 years will not be ME?
I am no lover of those who want to kill me. However, I am a lover of the laws of our country and the Constitution of this once great country. Declaring these men a prisoner of war is merely a word game. We must be more precise. There will always be people who wish to see the United States fall. Look to Timothy McVeigh and the militant people now living in the rural areas. Will they be next if we have attempted bombing or successful bombing? Will they be indefinitely held?
We must have trials. People must know why they are being held. We then present evidence, even if it is in a military tribunal. People who are truly dangerous will not be released as we should have enough evidence to hold them in a normal and appropriate jail (Super Max for those dangerous enough). If there simply is no evidence, we cannot and must not hold people. How can we be the country of Jefferson, Adams, Franklin and Washington if we do not uphold the principles that these men fought for, argued about and finally immortalized in our Constitution; that which has guided us and the rest of the world for the last 200 plus years.
Now is not the time for our torch to dim, but to blaze ever brighter in a world of those who would have tyranny and oppression. We will lead the way and show that we are not afraid and that we will not change our standards for treating other human beings out of fear. We will show that nothing is important enough for our country to change its' very founding principles. Only in this way can we show that terrorism and fear have not won. Rather, freedom and the American way have in fact prevailed. No amount of hatred can change our long valued principles and values. We will not live in fear. We will not change because of fear. We are Americans. Long may our flag wave in inspiration to all those who seek fairness, dignity and human rights.
In this way, and only in this way, by inspiring other people to want to have freedom and dignity to live in peace and harmony with each other without fear of detention for no reason for unlimited time and without fear of state sanctioned torture, with freedom of religion, freedom of speech, we offer the world hope, instead of fear. Hope will make America safe. Hope and a desire to be like us, to travel here and a love of our culture will make us safer, not a fear of America.
It could be that I am the only sane one left - or that I need some catnip. Who knows.....
Monday, May 25, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
In Massachusetts - a novel approach
Apparently a great deal of self-labeled "conservatives" are upset at a program in Massachusetts begun in 2006, which is going to receive an additional $3o,ooo to the $4oo,ooo currently received. First of all, that additional amount is relatively small for the uproar being raised. Read the story here for full details as reported in the Boston Herald.
As noted in the article, a person must be on welfare and have children. They must reside in an area where there is no public transportation to get to and from work. They either must have a job or demonstrate an ability to receive a job. Sixty-five people received cars last year. Those people had $6,000 deducted from there welfare benefits. Not having been on welfare, but examining the monies received for those on welfare and the amount of income one needs to have to qualify for welfare, I do not begrudge these people a chance to get out of this welfare trap.
Having reliable transportation is one of the keys to breaking the welfare cycle. Yes, these people will receive "free AAA membership and free insurance" for one year. This one year can be the year that they break free of the problems that typically besiege someone trying to escape poverty. Unfortunately, those people who are so angry at the perception that people are "getting something for nothing" that they fail to comprehend that they are actually helping to solve this cycle of poverty and dependence on the government. If you teach a man to fish, he can feed himself - is this not what this year and the car provides? A chance to not be feed, but to fish for himself? We are providing fishing poles instead of the fish and yet some of us still complain.
Can we please be more compassionate towards each other? This is our country. Yes, some of us cheat the system. I chose to believe there are more honest and good people than those who cheat. I know I am honest. I chose to believe that we continue to be the greatest country because we treat the sickest and poorest with some compassion still. If we can continue to do that, we will maintain our greatness, for it is said that the greatness of a country can be measured by how it treats its weakest, most vulnerable citizens. We must not fail.
We are Americans. All of us.
As noted in the article, a person must be on welfare and have children. They must reside in an area where there is no public transportation to get to and from work. They either must have a job or demonstrate an ability to receive a job. Sixty-five people received cars last year. Those people had $6,000 deducted from there welfare benefits. Not having been on welfare, but examining the monies received for those on welfare and the amount of income one needs to have to qualify for welfare, I do not begrudge these people a chance to get out of this welfare trap.
Having reliable transportation is one of the keys to breaking the welfare cycle. Yes, these people will receive "free AAA membership and free insurance" for one year. This one year can be the year that they break free of the problems that typically besiege someone trying to escape poverty. Unfortunately, those people who are so angry at the perception that people are "getting something for nothing" that they fail to comprehend that they are actually helping to solve this cycle of poverty and dependence on the government. If you teach a man to fish, he can feed himself - is this not what this year and the car provides? A chance to not be feed, but to fish for himself? We are providing fishing poles instead of the fish and yet some of us still complain.
Can we please be more compassionate towards each other? This is our country. Yes, some of us cheat the system. I chose to believe there are more honest and good people than those who cheat. I know I am honest. I chose to believe that we continue to be the greatest country because we treat the sickest and poorest with some compassion still. If we can continue to do that, we will maintain our greatness, for it is said that the greatness of a country can be measured by how it treats its weakest, most vulnerable citizens. We must not fail.
We are Americans. All of us.
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