AMERICAN PATRIOTISM

Somethings that seem up for debate are simply ludicrious to me. I cannot understand, for example, the vigorous opposition to drafting stricter gun laws. Is there any possible good that could come from a private citizen owning a semi-automatic rifle? If we are willing to practically physically violate every human being in an airport with body searches, why do we draw the line at violating someone's privacy by not selling a gun to a mental patient?

Another baffling debate for me, is this reluctance to oppose the use of torture by supporting legislature that would prohibit waterboarding, mock executions, induced hypothermia, and other harsh interrogation techniques. With all the chest-pounding bravado of what it means to be an American patriot, this issue should be a no-brainer. There are those who argue that harsh interrogation techniques can save American lives. At what cost? Who are we??? Since when do we throw out the moral high ground and become a country with the reputation for being ignorant bullies who govern by criminal force? Oh...that's right...sadly the moral lines have been blurred during this current administration.

But, it isn't too late to redeem ourselves, is it? In December, the House of Representatives passed Section 327 of HR 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act. Section 327 would ban the CIA, its contractors, and all other agencies of the intelligence community from engaging in interrogation techniques that are prohibited by the Army Field Manual on Interrogations. Now, it is up to the Senate. Maybe it is time that we take a stand...that we let our Senators know we want them to support this piece of legislation. Maybe it is time for America to return to being the "good guys"...the country that inspired other countries to be better, to do the right things, to take the moral high ground.

The image of an American patriot has become distorted in the eyes of the world. But, we can fix it. We can. I just have to believe that. It won't happen if we don't speak up. It won't happen if we leave these decisions to the politicians in Washington. It won't happen if we forget that these politicians work for us. We are not as helpless as we sometimes feel. It's just that we have forgotten how to use our voice.

Speak up. Contact your senators. Tell them what you want them to do about Section 327 and other "no brainer" issues. Someone has to be the voice of reason - and maybe it has to be all of us, using our collective voice to say, "Enough is enough."