Of course, When I say America is ending, I am not talking about the physical land of the United States but for which everything the United States stands. Yes, it is the end. We are our enemy. We have become them. We are Al Qaeda.
With the stroke of a pen President Bush has committed an act that destroys over 200 years of Freedom. It is called the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (They are even now so bold as not to hide the intent of the bill by naming it something like "Defense of America Act...") and it allows the Government to try people without full disclosure of information, it allows them to take you off the street and claim you as an "enemy combatant" and it no longer requires us to follow the Geneva Convention.
Defenders of the act claim it only applies to Non-US Citizens. Why, does it not specifically declare that this does not apply to US Citizens? With a single sentence they could have clarified this point. But, they didn't. Further, America, as a Country of ideas, treats all people with rights granted by the Almighty. Did the Almighty grant them only to those who were lucky enough to have parents and grandparents who were willing to leave their homeland and come here?
Yes, the end of America as an idea. America is, in fact an idea. The land is meaningless. We could have been anywhere. It was the idea that everyone is free, that you are innocent until proven guilty and that the Government has NO RIGHTS and that all rights are granted to the populous by the Almighty. The populous then allows the Government to have some rights and can pull them back at anytime.
Yes, America is actually a collection of ideas which is why when someone as stupid as President Bush comes along, the ideas fade. Bush, because of his inability to understand these ideas, has destroyed them and by destroying them he has done harm to America. The terrorists destroyed a few buildings and, sadly, over 2,000 Americans. Bush has destroyed the central ideas which have made this Country. Bush has destroyed our Country for all future citizens.
The terrorists made it so that my son cannot visit the World Trade Center - a building. President Bush has made it so that my son cannot ever live in a free and democratic society. My son will never live in the Country founded by our Founding Fathers. He will live in a new Country. One where you must be scared if you express ideas which are contrary to the Government. One where the Government reserves the right to take you and hold you without cause just by calling you an "Enemy Combatant". One where the Government is supreme and the people are scared. Scared of the terrorists? No. Scared of the Government? Yes.
Mr. Bush becomes a terrorist. Mr. Bush is our terrorist. Mr. Bush has become our "Al Qaeda". I am far more scared of the things he is doing than of a sick person who is living in a cave somewhere in Pakistan.
So, as you think of this you may say, "nah, the Government will never abuse their power", I ask you, when has a Government NOT abused its power? When has a Government NOT taken a policy which was meant to be very narrow and applied it in broader and broader terms as time goes on?
If you became a socialist, are you an "Enemy combatant"? No you say, it is obvious right? Well, think of McCarthy, think of the rounding up of Japanese Citizens, think about you being Maher Arar, a Canadian who was taken by OUR Government, brought to Syria and Jordan to be tortured, then found to be innocent and it was all a big "mistake". Think of that the next time you see a policeman or Government official. Think of what they can now do to you.
When you sit and rot in your jail cell somewhere, not able to see the evidence against you because it is "classified", ask yourself, who is going to come to your defense? Who even knows you are there?
We have lost America. The America of bold ideas. The terrorists understood that they did not need to destroy America, the land, to destroy America, the ideas.
Why no further attacks on the United States by Al Qaeda? Is it because Bush is "defending us" and taking "the fight to the enemy"? No, it is because Al Qaeda understands that America is a collection of ideas, not physical property. And they understand their best ally in this fight is, in fact, President Bush. They have put one of their own in power.
Now, when Bush leaves, who will stop us from applying these laws to him? Why not call him an enemy combatant? One who has attacked the America of ideas. One who has destroyed a Country. One who has made it so my son will never live in America as I knew it. The terrorists did not destroy America BUSH did.
And for that, he should be tried under the Military Commissions act and sent to a Syrian Prison where he can think long and hard about what he has done to this Country.
Bye Mr. President. I hope you enjoy what you have done to this Country.