Citizens of a nation need not have blood on their hands or horrific hate in their hearts to be guilty of crimes so base they belie their right to be considered civilized human beings. Goddamn every one of us.
Only a little more than half a century ago--within the lifetime of almost half of all American citizens--we denied the "Good German" the excuse of saying: "But we did not know," or, "We were only following orders." We put many of them on trial for war crimes and hung and imprisoned a bunch because they did know and did nothing or helped only a little bit out of a sense of duty. We did the same to Japanese who also denied complicity in crimes against humanity.
We are reading the truth every day in our newspapers. We know. And we do nothing. Or we may even help a little bit out of a sense of duty to the 'war on terror.' How about the men and women who fly the "rendition" planes? The men and women who type the paper work? The men and women who render food and supplies to these "know nothing" functionaries?
What about you? What about that man over there waiting for a bus? What about me? You know. He knows. I know. Goddamn us one and all.
Who is going to put us and our leaders on trial and punish us for this barbarity? We have sunk to the level of those who hate and attack us. Where, when and how did we stop being that so special breed of people--Americans?
Of course, many people around this world say we never were so special. Maybe they are right. But once upon a time I believed it. If you are like most American citizens you probably still do. Then do something. Say something. Please.
Or, perhaps Mr. Jefferson was right. Perhaps we have reached that point in a nation's ongoing history where revolution is necessary, again. Rendition that Mr. Bush.
Only a little more than half a century ago--within the lifetime of almost half of all American citizens--we denied the "Good German" the excuse of saying: "But we did not know," or, "We were only following orders." We put many of them on trial for war crimes and hung and imprisoned a bunch because they did know and did nothing or helped only a little bit out of a sense of duty. We did the same to Japanese who also denied complicity in crimes against humanity.
We are reading the truth every day in our newspapers. We know. And we do nothing. Or we may even help a little bit out of a sense of duty to the 'war on terror.' How about the men and women who fly the "rendition" planes? The men and women who type the paper work? The men and women who render food and supplies to these "know nothing" functionaries?
What about you? What about that man over there waiting for a bus? What about me? You know. He knows. I know. Goddamn us one and all.
Of course, many people around this world say we never were so special. Maybe they are right. But once upon a time I believed it. If you are like most American citizens you probably still do. Then do something. Say something. Please.
Or, perhaps Mr. Jefferson was right. Perhaps we have reached that point in a nation's ongoing history where revolution is necessary, again. Rendition that Mr. Bush.
