A letter signed by 145 House Democrats calls on President Bush to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility immediately. The letter also seeks the restoration of habeas corpus rights to these detainees. Can we please all try to remember back to Civics 101 when we learned about this oh-so-basic right of ours in America? It is one of the most fundamental rights of our democracy, for which men and women are dying every day!Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) is leading this effort. His letter to President Bush states:
"The closure of the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay would represent a positive first step toward restoring our international reputation as the leader of democracy and individual rights."
There are so many scandals and illegalities occurring at the moment, it's hard to keep things prioritized. I remember Stephen Colbert one time explaining the Bush Administration's method of handling bad publicity by using Russian nesting dolls. As soon as one problem gets too nasty, open the doll to reveal (and distract with) another problem. Illegal wiretapping? Open the doll to reveal Katrina! Getting a little too hot again? Open a doll to reveal ... Valerie Plame!
You get the idea. But don't let everything distract you from this fact: Innocent people are being held at Guantanamo Bay, with no charges against them. The writ of habeas corpus is included in the Constitution of the United States of America, Article 1, Section 9:
You get the idea. But don't let everything distract you from this fact: Innocent people are being held at Guantanamo Bay, with no charges against them. The writ of habeas corpus is included in the Constitution of the United States of America, Article 1, Section 9:
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
Our soldiers are fighting in Iraq to defend the ideals of democracy and individual freedom included in the Constitution. Holding these men (some for many years) without charging them does nothing for the safety of the United States and does everything for our enemies who proclaim us hypocrites.
More on the letter, and a list of the 145 Democrats and 1 Republican who signed it, is at The Raw Story. If your Congressperson is on the list, please thank them. If not, please let them know you want every person being held in US custody to receive the basic rights guaranteed in our Constitution.
More on the letter, and a list of the 145 Democrats and 1 Republican who signed it, is at The Raw Story. If your Congressperson is on the list, please thank them. If not, please let them know you want every person being held in US custody to receive the basic rights guaranteed in our Constitution.
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