Counterpoint
Have we lost all our moral high ground?
In response to the letter from Michelle Kerr: This is a great country. Everybody is entitled to an opinion; so is she. While a duty in the armed forces is a job with a lot of personal sacrifices by an individual, it is still a vocation one voluntary takes. The issue at stake is not their service, but the political will to apply military force in foreign policy — or better to say in lieu of foreign policy — in a way that is inconsistent with a role of armed forces in national defense.
To persecute a bunch of criminals with armed forces is an expensive nonsense. The entire war on terror is hogwash from the right concocted to justify expenses for otherwise unjustifiable expansion of the military-industrial complex at times when there are no military threats to our national security. This is something that should actually be an international police activity, yet we are giving the job to the military.
If Mrs. Kerr accepts the torture, waterboarding, etc., she is dangerously like-minded with the Nazis. They really knew how to torture. How about pulling the fingernails with pliers or sticking the needles under the nails? Why not use electroshock or open flame against the flesh of our enemies?
Are we really turning into a country that has lost all moral high ground and its sense of decency? Remember, the ends do not justify the means. Most of the hatred against us, as a country, is not because of our ideals, but because of the imperial outreach aimed at extracting natural resources from third world countries inconsistent with the best interests of those countries (peoples).
Along the same line of thought: It does not serve our better selves to pass laws that allow government indefinite detention of U.S. citizens by the military — without court justification. What is next, drone attacks on U.S. citizens on U.S. soil? As I believe, Ben Franklin once said: “One who is ready to sacrifice liberty for security deserves neither.”
Tony Radmilovich
Kona
Another travesty?
Amend the act
Last year’s National Defense Authorization Act included language that could allow the military to detain civilian suspects indefinitely without charge or trial.
For many Japanese Americans, this wording should bring back memories of a travesty of justice: Executive Order 9066 (which Roosevelt signed in 1941). My father had enlisted into the 442nd while his (future) wife along with both their families were in Heart Mountian Concentration Camp. In total, 110,000 Japanese Americans were placed in these concentration camps and were never charged or went to trial — nor did they know when they would get out.
We don’t need another draconian law that could do this to other racially profiled groups.
This year’s National Defense Authorization Act could come up for a vote soon. There is some good news, Congressmen Adam Smith and Justin Amash will put forth an amendment making it clear the military does not have the power to arrest and indefinitely detain civilians without charging or trying them.
Please urge your lawmakers to support their efforts and vote for these amendments to be included in the act.
Tlaloc Tokuda
Kailua-Kona