The documents on the detainees at Guantanamo released by the Pentagon last week show that many prisoners were detained on extremely flimsy grounds. Some, for example, were detained because they wore a very cheap style of Casio watches that terrorist have used to detonate bombs. But the watches are extremely popular and worn by thousands of Afghanis exactly because they are very cheap. It’s as if a person was arrested for having a cell phone, wearing jeans or drinking water – because terrorists do that too. If it wasn’t so tragic that so many people have lost so many years of their lives, their families, their sanity, their health and so much more – not to be mentioned had to endured torture and degrading treatment, the situation would almost be funny. You have to wonder whether the US forces are really that stupid as to believe that wearing a certain type of watch means you are a terrorist – and if so, no wonder we not only lost the war in Iraq but have pushed the country into civil war – or if they are just perverse, torturing people for the hell of it.
But anyway, now you too can become an object of suspicion by the US Government. You can buy one of those watches here. But be careful, you might find yourself in Guantanamo really soon.
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I’m not a Christian – at least not one of the God-believing variety – but if I was one, I think I’d be a quaker. Their commitment to peace and non-violence is admirable – but perhaps not unusual, the Jains, after all, won’t harm a bug – but it’s their active commitment to social justice, to putting their believes into action, which makes me respect them so much.
Quakers believe in equality among human beings, and have done so since they were founded in the 17th century. That belief led them to be deeply involved in the struggle to abolish slavery -including the running of the underground railroad which helped escaped slaves find freedom. In WWI they founded the American Friends Committee to allow Quakers to help ameliorate the miseries of a war, mostly by helping refugees. Since then AFC has become a force for peace and justice worldwide and has been awarded the Nobel Prize.
As a human rights activist, I run into Quakers everywhere. Indeed, like Tom Fox, they go where other activists fear to tread. Their courage and commitment awes me – but also inspires me, not just in my work but to be a better person altogether.
I just got a flyer from the USPS inviting me to go and get my passport at a “special event”. “This time, we’re traveling to you” – it says (or actually, what it says is “Esta vez, nosotros vamos donde t
Historically, I haven’t been one to contribute to political causes. I’m not crazy about the role of money in politics and I’ve preferred to donate any money to NGOs. Still, whether we like it or not, money does rule politics and the best way of improving this country and this world, right now, is getting rid of this administration. This administration is committed to fighting against human rights, the environment, health care, education and any and all causes that might serve the people rather than themselves and their cronies. We need them out. So, I, too, am biting the bullet and I’ve started to contribute to political causes. MoveOn is one of my favorites as it’s very grass-root oriented. I urge you to contribute as well.
You can do so at
https://political.moveon.org/donate/06march2.html?id=7011-4252582-oZRni1zJWPPI7ZZgWeyiBQ&t=2
Read below for their pitch:
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