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08/15/2002 Archived Entry: "Not the land of the free or the home of the brave"
According to a report by Human Rights Watch, the U.S. has abused the rights of hundreds of people detained for immigration violations, and suspected of terrorism, since September 11. Basically, the Justice Department is running roughshod over democracy, freedom, accountability and openness - destroying what remnants of justice were left in the system.
According to Jamie Fellner, the Director of the U.S. Program, "The U.S. government has failed to uphold the very values that President Bush declared were under attack on September 11[...] It has ignored basic restraints on a government's power to detain that are the hallmark of free and democratic nations."
How come I'm not surprised? After the detention of Japanese in the second world war, McCarthyism, slavery, etc. you'd think that Americans would be sensitive to targeting certain groups and taking away their rights. They've had to apologize for it before... but no, they don't care, don't remember or won't do anything to stop it. Once they are caught up in jingoistic rah! rah! rah! patriotism, and the worst mob mentality calling out for revenge, that's it. It's "Let's point the fingers at people who are different, let's throw them all in jail, because they aren't like us, because we don't understand them, and that will protect the 'American Way'". Bull-crapola.
The land of the free? No, obviously not. The home of the brave? If your principles and ideals go down the toilet as soon as they are attacked then I'd say you aren't brave.
The demise of democratic ideals, principles of justice and human rights in America is the most tragic death in the whole September 11 crisis.