Originally posted by jd140
This is the second time this little bit of my post has been quoted. Alone it looks like I make the arguement you accuse me of. All together I am asking what makes us better then what we have done?
Everyone is saying that we are better then that. I am asking when have we been better then that?
At one time, we allowed slavery. We decided that it wasn't morally correct, etc.. so we outlawed slavery. We became better then what we were.
Maybe NOW is the time for us to become better then we were. Throughout history, there have been pivotal moments where people have stood up and said no more or never again. Maybe this is one of those times.
Yes we outlawed slavery.
And when we did outlaw slavery we punished everyone who chose to break that law.
We haven't been nowhere near as diligent about torture. We can't ignore it all this time and one day choose to uphold the law.
The law has to be upheld at all times or it becomes impotent.
So because we may have made some mistakes in the past about upholding the laws, we should allow torture now and forever?
When the japanese waterboarded during WW2, they were prosecuted so there is some precident for upholding the Geneva Convention against those who wish to use this type of torture.
If we want to say we were wrong, then so be it. But if we want to prosecute then we have to do a full fledge investigation.
I have no problem with an in depth investigation. If we don't have one, one of two things will happen.
1. Those who should be found guilty will be found innocent.
2. They trials would look like a sham to appease the world.
We will have to treat the government as a buisness and dig back as far as we can and find out if anyone still in politics or alive was or has ever been involved with torture.
But to call for the head of one administration is nothing but a witch hunt.
I have no problem with that but, I would start with the newest accusations first as they would not be part of historical trials.
As example, we all know that slavery still exists in every country including the US. Now when those slavery rings are broken up, both the government and the people want to see those prosecuted before some super old guy that might have had a slave 100 years ago. I know this isn't historically accurate but I'm sure you take my point.
[edit on 1-5-2009 by jfj123]
[edit on 1-5-2009 by jfj123]
[edit on 1-5-2009 by jfj123]


