today in response to media reports on Sen Richard Durbin's (D-Moral Standing) apology.
I also added a poll to check where we Kossacks stand.
(We may have lost this battle but we must continue fighting against torture anywhere, anytime by anybody against anyone.)
Can we finally talk?
Durbin has apologized. But we still need to address allegations of abuse at Gitmo
Column by Clarence Page
Chicago Tribune - June 22, 2005
http://tinyurl.com/ardnb
And
Durbin yields to onslaught, apologizes in full
By Jill Zuckman and Gary Washburn
Chicago Tribune - June 22, 2005
http://tinyurl.com/c57ee
Plus
Sen Durbin's Senate Floor statement
http://tinyurl.com/7rwd5
* THOUGHTS *
Read the column by Clarence Page. He 'gets it' with writing like: "Actually, the issue Durbin raised was our nation's laws and values, not our men and women in uniform. Our ability to raise such issues is presumably what our fighting men and women are fighting for."
Remember that torture is unAmerican in immoral. The question isn't how much are we like torture regimes of the past. The question is why aren't we different enough from the Nazis, the Stalinists, the Vietcong POW camp guards, the Khmer Rouge, the Hussein regime.....
Again, the slimebags who allow torture to continue in the name of America are the ones who should be apologizing.
* ACTION *
Kudos to columnist Page: cptime@aol.com
Separately send letters to the editor of as many papers as you can [one by one, do not cc].
For the Trib you may want to reference the column by Clarence Page: ctc-tribletter@tribune.com
See media list below. Include your name, address and phone.
Please try to keep your letters short. Consider comparing Sen Durbin's rational question to the foul remarks of conservatives in recent years (including Rush Limbaugh's routine "feminazi" quips). See here:
GOP comparing Democrats to Nazis (Daily Kos)
---------------------------------
Full list of Illinois media:
http://tinyurl.com/2h978
Alton Telegraph:
telegraph_pub@hotmail.com
The Commercial-News, Danville:
newsroom@dancomnews.com
or
http://www2.dancomnews.com/letters/
Bloomington-Normal Pantagraph:
bwills@pantagraph.com
Champaign-Urbana News Gazette:
http://www.news-gazette.com/nnews/editorial/
Edwardsville Intelligencer:
btucker@theintelligencer.com
Kankakee Daily Journal
editorial@daily-journal.com
Peoria Journal Star: forum@pjstar.com
Rockford Register Star:
http://www.rrstar.com/ezaccess/contactus/lettertotheeditor.shtml
The State Journal-Register, Springfield:
letters@sj-r.com
The Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale:
Jeff.Smyth@TheSouthern.com
Suburban Daily Herald:
fencepost@dailyherald.com
Suburban Daily Southtown:
ekoziarski@dailysouthtown.com
McHenry County Northwest Herald:
ckrug@nwherald.com
Chicago Tribune:
ctc-tribletter@tribune.com
Chicago Sun-Times:
letters@suntimes.com
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