The city less bright

I caught a brief bit on conservative talk radio this morning during which the host was discussing torture - specifically water-boarding. He wanted his listeners to visualize a young child who had been kidnapped by a predator and stranded in a small room with little air or other provisions. Imagine we had caught the bad guy, the talker urged. Would you still rule out aggressive interrogation tactics? he asked of his listeners.
Hmmm... two things. No, three. First, a small child? Why not go all the way with the cute heartstring-tugging anaolgy and toss in a puppy or two?
Second, what about that presumed innocent until proven guilty thing? You know, our Bill of Rights? We should toss that aside and begin torturing suspects - suspects?
Of course, the radio host really wasn't talking about jeopardized children or predators who may prey upon them. The analogy was just a way to make a more emotional and dramatic point. The issue is how the country conducts itself. And that seems to have changed so dramatically since 9/11.
So, that's the third point. Ronald Reagan often referred to the US as the great shining city on the hill. His metaphor was nothing new. America has long been seen as a beacon, a guiding light modelling integrity, justice and human rights for the rest of the world - a welcoming, open and compassionate land. You know, "Give us your tired, your poor, etc."
How that has changed since 9/11. We have since fortified Lady Liberty, drawn up plans for walls along our borders, embarked on a pre-emptive war and endorsed torturing other human beings.
Things have changed.
You know, in spite of the spotlights, that city on the hill seems less bright today.

Comments

[Lisa]

I agree, since when does our country get away with terrorizing hundreds of thousands of people just to seek "justice". I know 9/11 is and was a huge deal. But how does that give us the right to take away others rights? Horrible terroristic things similar to 9/11 happen in other countries everyday. And I don't see any other governments forcing themselves upon other countries, sending in thousands of troops to look for something that was never there and then continuing this ridiculous man hunt for 5 years. Who are they really looking for?