Think, ACT, Vote.
Sep. 28th, 2006 11:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsI was thinking about a longer post, but I'll try to keep this short.
Tonight our national governing body decided to allow the president decide what is and isn't torture with only a few caveats.
They have added a clause that would allow American citizens to be labeled "enemy combatants" and be held indefinitely, just like those foreigners that we don't seem to care what happens to them.
The House has passed a bill that would allow the president and his agents to wiretap anyone without a warrant. It waits for Senate approval.
They have decided to forgo human rights for the idea of security and political gain. For a country founded on the ideals of liberty and equality, not only are we allowing our government to get away with horrible crimes, a large portion of the population seems to be for it, or at least uncaring.
When will it affect someone close to them, so they will wake up, and realize their own freedom could be taken so very easily?
I ask of all of you, please make sure you are registered to vote this year. Deadlines are fast approaching, and many of you, like myself, have moved in the past couple of years. At least allow yourself to be heard this year.
There needs to be a change this year before other things get passed. there has to be a break. When senators who have been tortured turn their backs and make political deals to allow them to run for the presidency in 2008, you wonder if anyone in Congress has any morals, any guts, or any sense.
I'm really ashamed of how we've gone in these last five years, and it's all been handed over so easily, so quickly by a populous who's motivated by the boogieman. Let it be known that yes, I think we should be aware, and should fight religious extremism (from all faiths - *looks at Tom Cruise*), but there's a right way to do it. If we're ever going to be a light for the world to see again, we need to step away from these dangerous policies, NOW.
What we're becoming now frightens me more than current terrorism. I wish it frightened others, too.
Tonight our national governing body decided to allow the president decide what is and isn't torture with only a few caveats.
They have added a clause that would allow American citizens to be labeled "enemy combatants" and be held indefinitely, just like those foreigners that we don't seem to care what happens to them.
The House has passed a bill that would allow the president and his agents to wiretap anyone without a warrant. It waits for Senate approval.
They have decided to forgo human rights for the idea of security and political gain. For a country founded on the ideals of liberty and equality, not only are we allowing our government to get away with horrible crimes, a large portion of the population seems to be for it, or at least uncaring.
When will it affect someone close to them, so they will wake up, and realize their own freedom could be taken so very easily?
I ask of all of you, please make sure you are registered to vote this year. Deadlines are fast approaching, and many of you, like myself, have moved in the past couple of years. At least allow yourself to be heard this year.
There needs to be a change this year before other things get passed. there has to be a break. When senators who have been tortured turn their backs and make political deals to allow them to run for the presidency in 2008, you wonder if anyone in Congress has any morals, any guts, or any sense.
I'm really ashamed of how we've gone in these last five years, and it's all been handed over so easily, so quickly by a populous who's motivated by the boogieman. Let it be known that yes, I think we should be aware, and should fight religious extremism (from all faiths - *looks at Tom Cruise*), but there's a right way to do it. If we're ever going to be a light for the world to see again, we need to step away from these dangerous policies, NOW.
What we're becoming now frightens me more than current terrorism. I wish it frightened others, too.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Sadly, I think you are only too correct
Date: 2006-09-29 04:41 pm (UTC)There are still far too many Americans who know what is happening is wrong, but won't make the effort to effect a change.
Just like there were millions of Germans who knew what was happening at the "relocation camps" was wrong, but figured it was being done by someone else, and anyway, it was necessary to preserve their security and way of life.
I refuse to give up, though. I may be cynical and angry and disappointed, but I have too much respect for the freedoms and the Constitution that the patriots of 1776 risked their lives, and in many cases, sacrificed their lives, for.
The Bush administration is a stinking mass of rotting filth, but that is not all of America.
So, I'm still working as hard as I can to motivate people to:
- write cheques and get out their credit cards and put their money where their mouth is to support campaigns of progressive candidates,
- volunteer to be scrutineers at polling places to help prevent another massive theft of votes,
- give a few hours to local voter registration programs and make reminder calls to get the vote out on election day,
- join non-partisan groups dedicated to ensuring clean elections, like Common Cause, and to restore balance and diversity in media, like MediaMatters,
and just telling people, you have 30 days to make a difference in America. If you aren't doing something constructive to make that change happen on every one of those days, you aren't doing enough to save your country.
Somebody once said to me, "If you're not part of the solution, you must be part of the problem."
I think that really applies to the mess America is in today.