Witness Against Torture

What kind of a nation have we become under the Republican Bush Administration? A nation that violates the Geneva Conventions by engaging in torture, extraordinary rendition, eliminating the right of Habeas Corpus, and engaging in the unconstitutional activity of surveillance on its citizens suspending their rights to privacy.

It appears that Osama bin Laden is winning as the United States suspends the civil liberties of its citizens and decreases their freedoms, engages in behavior alienating other countries around the world, and increasingly becoming a Christian Nationalist Fascist State.

Fortunately, some brave citizens are standing up for freedom even as they are being branded traitors and criminals by the current administration. On January 11, 2008 there was a demonstration in Washington, DC against torture which was either not reported or underreported in the news because the corporate media supports the current administration because war is good for business. Here is a brief snippet from the Witness Against Torture web site:

January 11, 2008 – Early this afternoon, 80 activists organized by Witness Against Torture delivered a message to the U.S. Supreme Court demanding the shut-down of the U.S. prison at Guantánamo and justice for those detained there. About 40 activists were arrested inside the Court building and another 40 on the steps. The arrests followed a solemn march from the National Mall of 400 persons that included a procession of activists dressed like the Guantánamo prisoners in orange jumpsuits and black hoods – part of an International Day of Action that was endorsed by over 100 groups and that included 83 events around the world.

Where does your favorite Presidential candidate stand on protecting our constitutional rights, our civil liberties, human rights around the world, and the use of torture and pre-emptive war? Hillary's record is not good. McCain's record is not good. The best Democratic candidates on these issues are Obama, Edwards, Kucinich. The best Republican candidate on these issues is Ron Paul. Watch them all closely and discuss these concerns with your friends and neighbors. We can be a far better country than we have been, and it will require new leadership and new values than what we have been subjected to the last 8 years.

Link: Witness Against Torture | campaign to shut down Guantánamo.