Other diaries

As a member of an American news bulletin board, I contribute original stories in diaries, this is one of them:


Pondering on America’s Descent into Torture


How could a country with such high ideals as the United States become a lawbreaker rather than a policy and lawmaker?

I have read some of the painful blogs of former and active military who are struggling with that question. They have personally seen it or in some cases been unfortunate enough to have participated in it.

I have witnessed a change in attitudes in the United States, as I am sure many others have. There was a time when depriving civil rights to a foreign national visiting in their country would have been unthinkable. The public took great pride in their freedom and generously extended it to others. This is not the case in 2006.

Because President’s are elected every four years, it’s easy to divide my recollections into administrations.

Starting with Eisenhower, who thousands of men and women around the world served under in WWII, his administration took place during the rock and roll years. In retrospect, it was a blessed time–relatively carefree with great music for teens and young adults to enjoy. Light-hearted comedies and musicals dominated movie houses and drive-in theatres. Elvis Presley was the undisputed King.

The 50’s were also cold war times, but the threat of communism pales in comparison to more modern times. McCarthyism was prominent from 1950-1954. There were aggressive manhunts and people were ruined using questionable evidence. He ceased to have influence in the courts after the Army-McCarthy Hearings. (Interestingly, Robert Kennedy was part of Joe McCarthy’s staff during the McCarthy Hearings—he also was a hard-line anti-Communist). How could he be anything else to be able to work for Joe?

This was also the time of the Korean War.1950-1953.

A new era opened up with the election of John F. Kennedy. He was young, clever, articulate, and handsome. His charismatic manner transmitted itself through the medium of TV and was the reason he won the election. Nixon was much better qualified, but lacked Kennedy's electricity.

John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech in 1961, “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country" swept away cobwebs that may have existed from the 50’s. John and his beautiful, elegant wife, Jacqueline, glittered in contrast to Eisenhower (a much older and probably wiser man). Kennedy captured the minds and hearts of young people. Together, they brought glamour and sophistication to the American Presidency.

One year, and ten months after the inauguration, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Oct 28, 1962, brought the world to the brink of a nuclear war. It wasn’t ‘til years later that documents surfaced displaying a picture that differed from what was seen on TV. There was no brinkmanship—deals were made between Russia and the United States that averted the war.

One year, and one month after the Cuban Missile Crisis, John F. Kennedy, was assassinated. There aren't many people who don’t’ remember where they were on November 22, 1963. The grief and shock was shared around the world. If there had been some way to collect the world’s tears the day of the funeral, when John-John saluted the passing flag-draped coffin of his Father, they would have filled a new Great Lake.

Life didn’t return to normal. Kennedy’s death marked an end to a dream.

Perhaps he didn’t pass the world’s greatest legislation, and his character was flawed in relation to women...none of those things captured what he represented to young people. Hope!

With the Johnston administration came the Viet Nam war which was yet another tragedy. It divided the United States as no previous war had. It was an ugly period of history. Troops came home from Viet Nam and some of their fellow Americans spat on them. Some young men had dodged the draft and fled to Canada. To put this war into perspective, go and see the movie, “Apocalypse Now”. The dark Joseph Conrad imagery that pervades throughout the movie, the cruelty and senselessness, and the awful emptiness was brilliantly captured in that picture. Marlon Brando was perfectly cast—he was formerly a young and handsome man. He was now aged and grossly overweight distorting his features in what was by contrast a bit part. Similarly the young troops morphed into hideousness. When the film was over and the house lights were turned on, there was a moment, I felt disoriented and somehow tainted. It’s a very powerful and moving film.

It wasn’t until President Richard Nixon’s term in office that the troops from Viet Nam returned home. Nixon is ‘the’ most experienced man that was elected President in my memory. He came with so much promise and left prematurely as a crook. The TV blared daily scandals, dirty tricks, White House plumbers, money laundering, stonewalling, executive privilege, missing pieces in tapes, the growing cancer just could not be sustained.

One term of Gerald Ford who wasn’t forgiven for the pardons he gave out. He also seemed prone to hitting himself, or tripping? Followed by another one termer, Jimmy Carter, and his brother Billy with his failed Billy Beer.

And now we come to President Ronald Reagan who is remembered fondly by a large portion of the population. He did have a presence, gave excellent speeches, had a marvellous sense of humour, and was genuinely approachable. He gave the impression of being a friendly neighbour next door. His health didn’t allow him to be as robust in his second term.

Look at the cast of characters that were later cycled and in some cases recycled: Bolton, Negroponte, Oliver North, Condoleeza Rice, George Herbert Walker Bush, James Baker, Elliot Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz, Colin Powell, John Poindexter, Scooter Libby, DonaLd Rumsveld, Frank Carlucci, Robert Kagan, Zalmay Khalilzad, and others.

George Herbert Walker Bush (one term) – Desert Storm

William Clinton—should have had it all. Rhodes Scholar, personable, young, good-looking, articulate, economic policy sound, and most of his policies did work out. His fatal flaw—a blue dress and a cigar. Jeez, now I have to admit, I am confused. There have been numerous Presidents’ that had sex with someone other than their wife. Why would another human being want to hurt a woman by telling her that her husband is unfaithful? That is unforgivable that anyone would do that. IMHO, it’s quite all right to have a low opinion of the philanderer, but that doesn’t absolve us from being cruel to the wife who has done nothing. Do we know what any of the President’s did behind closed doors? Is it any of our business what they did behind closed doors?

Why was the American public so hostile to William Clinton? Books are still being written about him and he hasn’t been the president for five years.

George W. Bush—who has made laws and policies that don’t benefit the electorate? Patriot I, Afghanistan, Iraq Invasion, Patriot II, Guantanamo prisoners held with no trials and usually without benefit of council. In fact most of the prisoners don’t have charges against them. No tribunals, and no trials anytime soon. Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, foreign nationals, etc

If I type the two words, USA torture, I get 80,200,000 hits from Google! I get only 19,200,000 for China torture.

As far as I can see, the only hope America has of regaining the greatness the United States is capable of is to elect someone other than Republicans. Then, she will shoulder her responsibility and lead the free world The position has been vacant far too long.

I really do have an ulterior motive for writing this, because I’m hoping if the United States is able to save itself, than my country will see the light too and roll back some of its Anti-terrorism laws its been making lately.