I would just like to share a letter I just wrote to the White House, regarding Obama's statement on prolonged, indefinite detention. As our President stated in his acceptance speech, this is not the change we seek, only the ability to make that change. I would ask all who read this to keep this in mind, and help own our government, as we were asked to do all through his election. The letter is over the fold...
I am writing today in response to your speech given at the National Archives. Specifically, I wish to express my incredible disappointment in your decision to endorse and implement this policy of prolonged, preventative detention. It is wrong, and illegal to do so, and to listen to you speak of our nation of laws, of our due process, and then immediately and flatly contradict this chills my soul. I understand that these people may be dangerous. They may be angry, resentful, and consumed with a desire for revenge. However, as you said, this situation is the direct result of our mistreatment, of our torture. You cannot heap a wrong on top of another wrong and expect us to believe it is right. We have moral and legal obligations, even though it is not the easy thing to do. Especially because it is not easy to do. How can you expect the world to believe we have truly ceased torturing, that we have changed our ways, when you are showing that we will still cast aside our laws and due process when it proves convenient to do so? When you are showing that we will cast them aside at even the possibility of danger?
During your campaign, you railed long, and loudly, against the morally bankrupt position of indefinite detention of those who are not charged, or even found innocent of the charges brought against them. You pledged to shut down Gitmo. You knew then that it was our albatross, a symbol of our failing to abide by the rules and values we ourselves created. We DO NOT want a new Gitmo to take its place! What was wrong there is just as wrong now, no matter where the facility is located. More so, even, because we the people can no longer claim ignorance. We cannot say "the government hid this from us." or "we had no idea that they were capable". You have said in plain daylight your intention to continue the extralegal treatment of these detainees, and I, for one, will not stand idly by, or be silent. If nothing else, your campaign opened my eyes to the evils of complicity, of apathy, of not holding our government accountable. Our passivity allowed these crimes to occur. Now that I know better, I will not allow this travesty to pass unnoticed simply because it is given a new window dressing, and a much more coherent messenger. I would ask that you uphold your word, our laws, and our values. I want to be able to trust our government again. Please match your words with actions.