I just read this story on Slate, "The Guantanamo Memoirs of Mohamedou Ould Slahi." Read it here. This is only one of the many stories of false imprisonment and shameful behavior by our government. I note that he began his link to his tortured future by aiding the United States in its battle against Russia in Afghanistan. He is only one man. A man whose story is now known. How many more are there who will die in disgrace and agony and innocence?
The contempt of the United States government towards people who once worked on its behalf is legendary. Remember the lines of Vietnamese who were abandoned at the U.S. embassy in Saigon? They had served the interests of our government. They had been promised they would be protected. We left them to the Communists.
Here in the United States we imprison hundreds of thousands of people for the same crimes that the rich get away with. Nonviolent people who are busted for pot possession. Innocents whose DNA evidence, once uncovered, is ruled inadmissible and retrials denied. It seems that every week there is a new man released after proof of his innocence is uncovered. How much of this will it take before We the People rise up in support of political candidates who will restore honor to our criminal justice system? When will the voices of those military leaders who know that torture is wrong if only because it invites the torture of Americans?
In my album "Contrary" I envision a man who is released after 20 years of unjust punishment. I sing of his outrage, his desire for revenge finally resolving into a desire to escape society altogether. His need for inner peace winning out over violent revenge. Here is where you can stream the songs for free on a Weebly website. And here is my YouTube video of the song "Fear the Man."
The contempt of the United States government towards people who once worked on its behalf is legendary. Remember the lines of Vietnamese who were abandoned at the U.S. embassy in Saigon? They had served the interests of our government. They had been promised they would be protected. We left them to the Communists.
Here in the United States we imprison hundreds of thousands of people for the same crimes that the rich get away with. Nonviolent people who are busted for pot possession. Innocents whose DNA evidence, once uncovered, is ruled inadmissible and retrials denied. It seems that every week there is a new man released after proof of his innocence is uncovered. How much of this will it take before We the People rise up in support of political candidates who will restore honor to our criminal justice system? When will the voices of those military leaders who know that torture is wrong if only because it invites the torture of Americans?
In my album "Contrary" I envision a man who is released after 20 years of unjust punishment. I sing of his outrage, his desire for revenge finally resolving into a desire to escape society altogether. His need for inner peace winning out over violent revenge. Here is where you can stream the songs for free on a Weebly website. And here is my YouTube video of the song "Fear the Man."
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