Final Words on Torture

I’ve submitted a couple of posts already on the torture issue. I’m not a screaming political type nor do I trust one party over another, but I think that it’s important for gay people to pay particular interest to this issue. As part of a minority with a history of being a political punching bag, we need to be particularly aware of the erosion of basic human rights. When I think of the various types of torture that I’ve heard about in the Middle East as it pertains to gay men, I can’t help but make connections and wonder what a slow, steady erosion of rights might mean for us in a future where times are tougher, people are less educated and more religious (the two seem to conflate), and despotic men who know how to take advantage of a crisis through manipulation might rise to power.

Please take a moment to view the commentary by Keith Olbermann. Our civil liberties have been attacked repeatedly. We’ve dealt with invasion of privacy, secret prisons, and erosion of the rule of law. If we are at a point in our country where we will allow torture, what is next? Do you really think the people of this country have learned anything? Do you really think that they can’t be scared again into following the rest of the lemmings off the cliff? Think about it. George Bush’s approval ratings are not so low because he is wrong about Iraq. They are low because we are getting our ass kicked in Iraq. Some people say that another terror attack, and this country will lose their shit, which may just give this guy the leverage he needs to do god knows what. It’s up to all of us to defend our values and inform those around us.