Yesterday, the Senate joined the House in approving a piece of legislation, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, that discards key human rights protections and our best American traditions. With the passing of the bill, the members of Congress who voted for the bill stated loudly and clearly that they do not intend to practice real Christian values!
Congress had the opportunity to correct the Bush administration's profoundly disturbing human rights policies. Instead, they gave their stamp of approval to human rights violations. Our representatives in Congress have just passed legislation that:
1) Establishes a new judicial system to try a wide variety of people in military commissions that lack the minimal safeguards regarding coerced evidence may deny the right of the accused to examine evidence against them. A person could be sentenced to death under this flawed system.
2) Strips prisoners in Guantanamo and other alleged enemy combatants in U.S. custody --of the ability to file a writ of habeas corpus and challenge their detention. Many of these prisoners have been held for almost five years without charges or meaningful judicial review
3) Expands the definition of unlawful enemy combatant to allow the U.S. government to detain people on or off the battlefield indefinitely without charge or access to judicial review for an act as minor as writing a check.
4) Provides retroactive immunity to those who may have been implicated in creating policies or participating in abuse and other acts that most of us would consider torture and other cruel,inhuman or degrading treatment.
It is indeed a sad day for all real people of faith who deplore this "end justifies the means" mentality.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Musharraf talks Osama, Iraq on 'Daily Show'
Last night Jon Stewart posed the following question to President Gen. Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan:
"'George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden -- be truthful -- who would win a popular vote in Pakistan?' asked Stewart.
'I think they'll both lose miserably,' replied Musharraf, ..."
This may be the best comment of all expressing the sentiment of sensible, objective people of the world!
"'George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden -- be truthful -- who would win a popular vote in Pakistan?' asked Stewart.
'I think they'll both lose miserably,' replied Musharraf, ..."
This may be the best comment of all expressing the sentiment of sensible, objective people of the world!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
We Need Honest Discussion on Immigration Reform
letter to the editor of the Hendersonville Times-news:
Last Saturday I attended what was billed as a town hall meeting at BRCC sponsored by Congressman Charles Taylor. The subject was immigration reform and Congressman Tom Tancredo was his guest. Obviously, I failed to get the memo about this not being an open discussion, as I so naively expected a town hall meeting to be. It was nothing more than a right wing pep rally, highlighting Tancredo's extremist views on immigration reform. The "moderator" for the evening was a Taylor lackey who fed the two congressmen only questions that fit their script. Needless to say, my question was not considered!
I heard only extremist views and applause from the audience for those views. I even heard a racist statement added by one politician as a cute phrase attached to an illustration; the audience laughed with glee at the statement!
We need an honest discussion on immigration reform! Where are the voices of reason and tolerance? Where are the voices of people of faith who understand the Biblical call for compassion and concern for the stranger among us?
I challenge this community to have a real town hall meeting where all voices are heard!.
Last Saturday I attended what was billed as a town hall meeting at BRCC sponsored by Congressman Charles Taylor. The subject was immigration reform and Congressman Tom Tancredo was his guest. Obviously, I failed to get the memo about this not being an open discussion, as I so naively expected a town hall meeting to be. It was nothing more than a right wing pep rally, highlighting Tancredo's extremist views on immigration reform. The "moderator" for the evening was a Taylor lackey who fed the two congressmen only questions that fit their script. Needless to say, my question was not considered!
I heard only extremist views and applause from the audience for those views. I even heard a racist statement added by one politician as a cute phrase attached to an illustration; the audience laughed with glee at the statement!
We need an honest discussion on immigration reform! Where are the voices of reason and tolerance? Where are the voices of people of faith who understand the Biblical call for compassion and concern for the stranger among us?
I challenge this community to have a real town hall meeting where all voices are heard!.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Tonight on Countdown
Here is a small excerpt from Keith Olbermann's commentary tonight at 8 pm on MSNBC:
"The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechanics of his election ignored that.
Those who wondered of his qualifications forgot that.
History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics.
It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage."
"The only positive on 9/11 and the days and weeks that so slowly and painfully followed it was the unanimous humanity, here, and throughout the country. The government, the President in particular, was given every possible measure of support.
Those who did not belong to his party tabled that.
Those who doubted the mechanics of his election ignored that.
Those who wondered of his qualifications forgot that.
History teaches us that nearly unanimous support of a government cannot be taken away from that government by its critics.
It can only be squandered by those who use it not to heal a nation's wounds, but to take political advantage."
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