Bush's Critics Love the U.S., Too

Two June 27 letters titled "How can Dems compare U.S. to the Nazis?" were offensive and inaccurate. Unfortunately, too many people hear only sound bites on their favorite cable network show and haven't heard or read the seven-page speech made by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. If they did, they would know that most of his speech was about the overturning of our laws and treaties that, because we are a civilized nation, we have chosen to abide by in previous conflicts.They were overturned because Alberto Gonzales, then the White House chief counsel, told the president that the Geneva Conventions did not apply. Colin Powell strenuously objected and was overruled. The Supreme Court has twice ruled that the Constitution does not allow people to be held without charges or access to legal advice. This administration has chosen to ignore those rulings. How can we condemn the torturers in other lands if we become them? Torture gains little information and reinforces the prisoner's beliefs. Just as Iraq has become a recruiting tool for terrorists, so has our abuse of prisoners. The reports of abuse have come from numerous sources, including FBI agents, the Red Cross, military guards who have been witnesses and Amnesty International.I only hope more dissenters, like Durbin, will continue to speak out. We Democrats, and many others who disagree with the administration, love our country as much as Republicans do, however much the right-wing radicals try to portray us otherwise.

SHARON GRAY

Mays Landing

Letter printed in A.C. Press, July 13, 2005

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/columns/071305LETTSWEDJUL13.cfm