BBC NEWS | Europe | 'Torture victim' seeks US justice
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin's Contributions to the Conference on February 17 (III) Fri, Feb 17, 1775
"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."
Thomas Paine
It has been said that the founding fathers did not understand the necessities of the modern world. People have excused torture in more creative ways as they have the denial of liberty. They have done so in every generation. Let me reiterate the immortal words of Thomas Jefferson "All men are created equal and they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
The idea that anyone can with a straight face excuse the suspension of rights is outrageous. Do you think Patrick Henry was speaking only of himself when he said "Give me liberty or give me death." He was asking for, demanding, liberty for the American people.
We can't expect respect or understanding from our enemies if we do these things. We must take the moral high ground. Why? Because we are the moral high ground. Where do the poor, the tired, the huddled masses yearning to be free turn if we are not that high ground? How can conservatives like Bush believe that this kind of moral equivocation is justifiable? Who are we if we are not for freedom, truth and justice for all?
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