Julian Assange may be a hero or a traitor - that is for history to decide. But if we do not stand for the sanctity of his life, we are no better than the hypocrites of the right who bray about protecting freedom while doing everything to soil and degrade its quality.
Some of us may have a strong grasp on these current events, but that doesn't change the fact that essentially all of us are struggling to adjust to rapid, societal change. It is somewhat traumatic for the human, inherently, or so argued Alvin Toffler in his 1970 book, Future Shock:
Future shock is the shattering stress and disorientation that we induce in individuals by subjecting them to too much change in too short a time.
In such trying times we are tested to our integrity and our principles. If we cannot uphold our principles in such times, we do not uphold them at all. I for one believe in peace. In the 21st century, there is no reason why any criminal cannot be housed securely, at reasonable cost. There is no reason why criminals cannot be tried fairly and impartially by judges rather than the court of public opinion.
What's more, I thought violent hatred was a right-wing thing.
This week I saw comments around the blogosphere, including some here, suggesting that Assange is just an ordinary spy or deserves execution. Someone channeling John Foster Dulles? Dean Acheson?
Aren't we better than that?
Thou shalt not kill - some guy
"...right to life, liberty..." - found on some rag
At the same time, some here would defend the execution of American citizens abroad - a strategy seemingly employed because it exceeds the cost-benefit analysis for tracking them down. Right - sick.