Remembering D-Day

As I watched the D-Day ceremonies on CSpan, all I could think of was that WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WWII, SO WE DO NOT HAVE WWIII.

I believe that Hitler used FEAR to manipulate his people. It is VERY EASY to get people to fear other groups. Zenophobia seems to be part of our primitive response system, as a THEM v US response.

Twenty years ago, I would have laughed if you had told me that the United States of America would hold prisoners for over 10 YEARS without a trial. WE DO NOT DO THAT, I would have said. IT VIOLATES OUR CORE VALUES. We do not throw people in prison and throw away the key.

Then came 9/11.

I never thought that the US would ever again blame individual soldiers for an entire war. The treatment of Vietnam vets made me ashamed. So I tried to be nice to the returning vets, as I knew they were not actually "baby killers."

But the fear from 9/11 is still a potent force. We are trashing a returning prisoner of war, using rumor, innuendo, and his father's beard.

Worse, we fuss about letting go five prisoners who were never tried for their alleged crimes. These men could NEVER be tried. It is one thing to say that you can use torture to get information. It is another matter to admit into court evidence acquired through torture.

FEAR and XENOPHOBIA stop people from being able to use logic. So I ask you, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE TORTURED and then PUT IN A PRISON WITHOUT A TRIAL?

The five that were released will be carefully watched. Hopefully, if they go back to using violence, they will be caught, tried, and convicted.

OUR BILL OF RIGHTS DEMANDS NOTHING LESS.