For our own good?
The images we have been given of Guantánamo would lead us to believe that it is an important facility to house detainees during the war on terror. After September 11th 2001, an idea like this would’ve been welcomed with open arms by many in the major western countries.However five years, since the opening of the facility, we are constantly being left astounded by the treatment of many of the detainees who have yet to be charged with an offence, other then being in the wrong place at the wrong time.The threat to our society and way of life should always be considered paramount, of that there is no doubt. However everyone, no matter how they have lived, on this planet is entitled to a set of Human Rights that must be upheld.
80% of detainees are in solitary confinement and some have had to wait for up to two years to be granted legal counsel and three years for their case to be processed.
If the roles were reversed and many American men were being taken by terrorists to a facility whose leaders claimed acceptable torture was allowed in the handling of detainees there would be widespread anger, on this side of the world.
While most here do not wish to see any more tragedies by terrorist hands we also do not wish to feel unsafe and insecure about how we treat those that are perceived as ‘The Enemy’.
I believe in some leaders, mostly those in the military, that there is a desire for them to tighten their grip on society with fear. This comes from both sides, those that commit the acts of terror and those who always try to prevent it.
What we consider a hindrance is consider necessary by the authorities. To us all of the security checks take up too much time in our already busy lives. I understand the need for them and ,having travelled more in the past year then ever, I have gotten used to them, but that isn’t the end of it.
If it were, we could understand the plight of the governments around the world who want to live in and with democracy. The authorities fail to realise that fear isn’t a strong enough reason to go and do whatever they like. It never was and hopefully it never will be.
Every phone call, bank statement, internet purchase etc can now be traced, without our permission, if the authorities see fit. I’m convinced that there are many inside governments who like to have this control on the general public at large.
Is a country in fear not easier to rule? Are it’s citizens more likely to believe in leaders while secretly fearing for their lives? Yes to both questions I would think and it would seem to me to be a perfect reason for us being told that all of these security measures that have been taken are for ‘our own good’
Thursday, July 26th, 2007 and is filed under Thoughts & Questions.
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