The Chris Moeller Archives

A dark day for democracy

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin's apology earlier today for comparing American interrogators in Guantanamo Bay to Nazis and other repressive regimes is one of the most embarrassing and disheartening things ever witnessed in politics. Nevertheless, I'd like to briefly focus on the positive-- for one exciting week, it appeared that at least one member of our representative government in Washington gave two shits about democracy, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and basic human dignity. One Senator, having read reports of prisoners being chained to the floor without food or water in extreme temperatures, had the balls to say that this is wrong and there needs to be accountability. His only mistake was forgetting to add the fact that these prisoners have not been charged with a crime or tried in a court of law.

After a week of being drawn and quartered by right-wing radio commentators and pro-war advocates from both parties, including Chicago's Democratic Mayor Richard Daley (whose father knew a thing or two about police state brutality,) Durbin sobbed on the floor of the Senate today and apologized to any soldiers who felt insulted by his remarks. Which soldiers would those be? The ones with a clear conscience who know Durbin wasn't talking about them, or the ones with a damaged conscience or no conscience at all who feel the sting of truth?

It's another successful 'bait and switch.' Rumsfeld and our Clockwork Orange military leaders get to walk in the press, while Durbin weeps. Stop apologizing, Dick, and stop crying. Schwarzenegger was right-- nothing but a bunch of 'girlie-men.'

Every time our leaders ask us to stand up and salute the flag, they pick our pocket. And I'm sick of it. We sing the anthem. We pledge allegiance to invisible borders. For centuries, these reflexive practices have nurtured a large constituency of support for those in power, and it has meant mass murder for those without power.
I appreciate the sentiment that 'you can support the soldiers without supporting the war.' After all, it's also been said that the measure of intelligence is holding two opposing thoughts in your head at one time. But the gray area has been a gold mine for warmongers. The freedom to dissent against the war machine is too high a price, regardless.

I find it ironic that those who believe so much in America seem to have the least amount of faith in the endurance of its principles. Are we so vulnerable that we can't trust our neighbors? Can we not welcome diversity and make welcome "the huddled masses" to which we have promised so much-- and who have helped make us the power we are? And should we not hold our military to a higher standard than we hold our enemies? And then have the freedom and courage to say it publicly, even on the floor of the United States Senate?
I guess we can be grateful that Durbin's comments caused such an uproar. The pro-war advocates know these comments struck a nerve, and we'll see this bunch get more and more desperate still, as the war coalition continues to collapse and the situation in Iraq plunges to new depths.

posted by CM @ 9:29 PM