All of course for our own good, our safety, our protection. The ends justify the means.
That lesson in "democracy" and "freedom" hasn't been lost on despots and dictators around the world. as Ahmed Raza Kasuri, senior legal adviser to Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, told NPR in an interview about the recent "suspension" of the constitution and dismissal of judges about to overturn his election for violating the Pakistani Constitution. He told NPR that the extraordinary steps Musharraf has recently taken are no different than what the U.S. did after the Sept. 11 attacks. He says they are necessary to bring peace to the country. You can listen to the interview here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16088925
What is happening in Pakistan is no different that what is happening in the United States of America. Pakistan is beating and jailing protesters, mainly lawyers, without trial.
When the ends justify the means and the rule of law is ignored, you get Pakistan, and China, and Russia - states where individual rights and freedoms mean only what those in power allow them to mean. And when our political leaders promote these behaviors, our business leaders follow. Accountability already means little and employees are losing their basic right to have a job without peeing in a bottle, quiting smoking at home, losing weight, and not expressing their political views.
Torture is not a family value. It is not a Christian (or Muslim, Jewish, or Buddhist) value. It is not an American Value. It is not a Liberal nor a Conservative Value. It is an illegal, impeachable, treasonable behavior of this administration that should be held accountable.
Else we will continue have the same democracy as Pakistan.
1 comment:
This is a sadly accurate comparison. Though at least in Pakistan there is some hope.
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