by sienna1

Created on: May 19, 2009   Last Updated: May 27, 2009

This subject is extremely sensitive to those all around the world. America lost a lot of hardened admirers when Guantanamo was set up under the Bush Administration. Yes, September 11 was so atrocious and needed addressing and yes, there needed to be something done, but in the right way. What set America apart from the evils of the world was its sense of fairness and human rights.

All this was done away with and what happened was peoples rights were taken from them, even the most basic right was taken and this was hidden from the public. They are only guilty after it has been proven and all should have their day in court, not a court that is already decided, but one that listens to both sides.

People need to open their eyes and see what has happened and to not defend it.

Australia had two prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and both came out with serious psychiatric problems afterwards, both spent years in there for things that were unproven and neither were allowed basic human rights. Even their military lawyer was screaming that things were very wrong. It was at this time my eyes were opened and I looked at what was happening and I thought, why can't a lawyer go in and see him if he is being treated OK? Why can he not be charged if they think he is guilty and why does it take 5 years for someone to face a charge or a court? Why does it all need to be so hidden or why does he need to keep a confidentiality contract in order to be released?

I hear people screaming that they kill others and little children etc., but war has changed, it is not played out under the Geneva convention anymore. Those people transported to Guantanamo were people simply fighting for their side in their country. There were some that were probably terrorists and involved in bombing civilian buildings, but most were simple foot soldiers.

What the world learned was America DOES torture, it does abuse human rights and it can not take the high ground anymore. It was a wake up call to all involved. I am hoping that Obama can address these issues and give the USA its credibility back.

It is not OK to torture, not for any reason and this is was sets us apart from the bad guys. Once you break that rule, you have lost. Our previous Government took a battering for not protecting our rights and blindly following the Bush Government, but in a way it was a wake up call. Do not just trust your Government will do the right thing, Do not allow them to sneak laws in that allow a corruption of Human Rights.

If it takes a wet rag held over your face and a bucket of water to get a confession, then it's inadmissable and wrong. If you need to be stripped naked and forced to assume a position, then it's sexual assault.

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