In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future.
When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations.
It is for this reason that they are growing up “indifferent”.
Young people are acquiring the conviction that foul deeds are never punished on earth, that they always bring prosperity.
It is going to be uncomfortable, horrible, to live in such a country!
This the Nobel Prize winning author Aleksander I. Solzhenitsyn wrote in his book “The Gulag Archipelago”.
It applied to the situation in Russia, the former Soviet Union, concerning all the violations of laws that happened there between 1917 to 1960.
But what Solzheniysyn describes is a fundamental truth that applies to all countries where evil has been performed.
Most particularly it applies now to the USA.
It is an uncomfortable truth for most Americans, but over the past years the CIA and the Army, backed by the Bush Administration, has been breaking Federal Laws, the American Constitution and International Laws, Agreements and Conventions.
These serious violations of laws have been tried to be covered up.
But because Barack Obama has become the new President and has much more decency in him than George Bush, now we are learning in detail what happened and who was responsible.
Following Solzheniysyn theory, the responsible persons must be brought to justice.
And that includes George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Condoleeza Rice.
It has been said here repeatedly, by American and International law they are war criminals and they should be made responsible for their decisions.
It is nothing personal.
Who would care for the person George W. Bush or Dick Cheney?
They are evil and stupid people.
What we are concerned about is what Solzheniysyn foresees: if Bush and his gang are not publicly and juridically made responsible for their deeds, the generations to come will morally decline even more.
And create together a society more horrible than we can imagine.
Because the new generation has learned then that you can have the most horrific behaviour, like allowing torture, and can get away with it no problem.
Therefore, for the sake of the well being of the generations to come and for the sake of guaranteeing a better society in the future, put the Bush gang on trial.
Punish them for what they did.
6 comments:
I believe there is much that goes on behind the closed doors of white and block ops which we civilians will never know. No administration or government is innocent of crimes against individuals. To hand pick one administration for punishment is possibly a bit much. Besides, this "waterboarding" (good grief, we could have been beheading them instead) probably pales in comparison to a lot of stuff that happens.
I agree, but also disagree.
They (Bush administration) were bad, even evil.
But, they were still doing what they THOUGHT was right. It is possible to understand their motivation.
Now there is change, and we should go forward - not worth looking over our shoulder.
I agree with your post - also disagree.
The Bush Administration was bad - even evil. But, they THOUGHT they were doing the right thing, and they had a point...meaning it's possible to understand (but not agree with) their motivation.
Now Obama has changed the equation, and exposed the players. But, I don't think we should take action against people who meant well - we already did with the election. Go forward - not look back.
My opinion only...Mike
Why waste time and space on politics? We are not in it and it is so easy to criticise. Let karma handle it. Once you are on the hot seat many decisions have to be made and many people will be unhappy. Nothing is absolutely right and nothing is absolutely wrong. Plus there is no use attacking Bush for ever. Give Obama some more time and he will make countless 'unpopular' decisions. It is the nature of politics. Instead, it will be good to focus on the good life and the beautiful women you meet. Make hay while the sun shines, pal.
--- Rajendar Menen
I certainly agree with the "meat" of your commentary. That "indifference" of which Solzhenitsyn speaks reflects of society that is blase, lazy and often afraid of making waves of any kind.
Easier to let things lie than to put in the effort to change things. These changes in the American system of "justice" were implemented thru a carefully orchestrated background of FEAR,
exploiting that fear to allow our justice system to do anything they pleased. Alas, history repeats itself and our system of checks and balances failed us because no one wanted to contradict
the bully in charge. Hurrah for Obama for allowing this to come to light and exposing the culprits but more importantly for admitting to a mistake and trying to rectify it publicly.
I disagree that the last administration was lead by stupid people. Cocky, chauvinistic, self-righteous, intolerant, myopic... and the list goes on, but not stupid.
J.G.
Everyone at my house agrees. T. was so happy when Pres Obama was elected but now he is mortified(as we all are) that Obama has said he will not prosecute them for the torture and war crimes they committed . It is a huge black mark against the USA and Obama will not get anywhere with negotiations with other countries until he prosecutes the wrong doers. T
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