Guantanamo – Make a Difference! – Act Now!

Inspired by a perceived call to act for justice at the MSJC gathering in Rockaway Park NY on January 13, I offer the following:

Every day lately as I begin to get ready for my next day, I cannot help but think of all those who have no next day to look forward to, just more incomprehensible misery at the hands of the government you and I are supporting daily. As I write this, about 430 persons (some of whom were 16 years old when captured) languish, some as long as five years, in Guantanamo, denied basic rights, without trial, allowed minimal human contact even with their lawyers, and without any hope of change. Furthermore, according to Senator Arlen Specter, a Republican, there are 14,000 military detainees held by the US around the world currently blocked from pleading their cases.

        These are human beings. Can you imagine what it’s like for them? Their minds, hearts, and souls are no doubt affected forever, and if they did not hate before; how must they feel now. And why? Even convicted criminals have a specified sentence and reason for incarceration. The fact is most of these detainees have been determined by our own government agencies neither to have had any direct terrorist connection nor to have fought against us. Most were turned in by various sources in exchange for a substantial reward. How can they deal with this in their own minds? Many are losing their memories and their sanity. At least three have committed suicide and many more have tried. What if even only one is innocent? How can we tolerate such injustice?

        Letting this go on so long seems inconceivable for a nation that claims to be an upholder of liberty and justice for ‘all’. In fact our own Supreme Court found this denial of basic rights illegal just a few months ago, and then the laws were changed. Every respected international body in the world has called this a violation of international standards and for closure and just disposition of the detainees’ cases. Yet it continues.

        But it can change. This time, you can make a real difference. We have a new Congress and legislation to change things is already proposed. This is one situation that can be turned around and all it takes is for enough good people speak up.

        A bill (S185) to restore Habeas Corpus is before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Effective Terrorist Protection Act, to correct many problems with the recent Military Commissions Act (S4060 of 2006), is to be reintroduced next week. I have spoken to staffs of the sponsoring senators and all say the same thing. The political will is there, all they say is needed is for people to contact and push their own Congress people to build support to move it up the list for action.

So, contact Congress, and get your friends, neighbors, groups, and networks to do so also.  Forward this widely (like everyone does to you) and blog it.  Write to your local paper.  It just takes a few minutes and does make a real difference.  Keep it short and simple.  Making the contact is the most important thing.

Here are some key website resources:

• To find your senators and representative: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm. A phone call is easy and they are always very nice to constituents. Otherwise personalized letters or faxes are best, and be sure to refer to the actual bills.
• For automated letters to Congress that you can edit, go to: http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=goJTI0OvElH&b=953489&action=7933&template=x.ascx.
• For sample letters to the press, go to: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/ccr/pickMedia.jsp?letter_KEY=638.
• To learn more or about other actions to end the abuse of prisoners, go to: http://witnesstorture.org/  or feel free to contact me at rsroczynski@verizon.net.
• To learn individual’s stories or to personally answer the call to ‘visit the imprisoned’ write to a detainee or their family, go to: www.cageprisoners.com.

Let us not let this go on any longer. If not us, then who?

Richard Sroczynski