04 September 2008

Would the real Dick Cheney Please Stand Up

Dear Ms. Palin and republic cronies everywhere,

In last night's caustic speech, you criticized Barack Obama by claiming:

"Al Qaeda terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights?"

Let me just say that if this is a country where we stop worrying about reading people their rights, I want out...immediately.

The moment we forget that our enemies are human, the moment we treat them as though they do not breathe and hope and hurt just as we do, is the day we become something truly evil. I do not want to live in a country where we are so weak, so afraid, so hateful that we cannot afford the most basic human rights to even the most despicable human.

That my dear Ms. Palin is what used to make us better than whatever it was lurking out there. That is what made America a land of promise--that we saw all people as...people. Humans that deserved the same treatment as any other human.

But when we strip away rights-- in the name of fear and of "protection"--we do not make America stronger or more safe.

We simply become one of the bad guys.

And that is unforgivable.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

nicely put.

Amy said...

I said exactly the same thing (only with more swearing) to my husband last night as we watched in growing horror. This woman appeals to everything that is wrong with the people who will vote for her. Fearmongering at it's pinnacle.

I am reclaiming my Canadian heritage and moving away if we actually elect these clowns.

AcadeMama said...

Yes, Canada is looking better every day.

I'm so glad I decided not to tune in last night.

Anonymous said...

i will say that the biggest difrence between the two convention is quit simple the democrates talked about the change they wanted to make and how they would do it and all the rebupliclowns have done is try to insult and tear down the democrats. To the average bystandered it would seem like they are scared

Anonymous said...

Amen, ld, amen. I'm glad you were able to get past your angry and write something coherent. I'm still in that blind stupid rage phase.

Amy said...

I think that's just rhetoric - overstating to make a larger point about the differences in approach to that issue. Both sides do it - oversimplification for amplification.

I'm not saying it doesn't make you cringe when the opposite camp does it, though.

Lisa Dunick said...

I could believe it's "just rhetoric" if I hadn't already seen what this administration has done-- people held at Guantanamo for years without formal charges or legal representation, illegal wiretapping of American citizens. This issue isn't about oversimplification-- this issue is about Americans forgetting that we were the country built on the idea of rights.

Amanda said...

That woman scares me. This is a good quote:

"John McCain announced that he was running for president to confront the "transcendent challenge" of the 21st century, "radical Islamic extremism," contrasting it with "stability, tolerance and democracy." But the values of his handpicked running mate, Sarah Palin, more resemble those of Muslim fundamentalists than they do those of the Founding Fathers. On censorship, the teaching of creationism in schools, reproductive rights, attributing government policy to God's will and climate change, Palin agrees with Hamas and Saudi Arabia rather than supporting tolerance and democratic precepts. What is the difference between Palin and a Muslim fundamentalist? Lipstick."

--Juan Cole, for Salon.com

Amanda said...

That woman scares me. This is a good quote:

"John McCain announced that he was running for president to confront the "transcendent challenge" of the 21st century, "radical Islamic extremism," contrasting it with "stability, tolerance and democracy." But the values of his handpicked running mate, Sarah Palin, more resemble those of Muslim fundamentalists than they do those of the Founding Fathers. On censorship, the teaching of creationism in schools, reproductive rights, attributing government policy to God's will and climate change, Palin agrees with Hamas and Saudi Arabia rather than supporting tolerance and democratic precepts. What is the difference between Palin and a Muslim fundamentalist? Lipstick."

--Juan Cole, for Salon.com

The Family said...

Amen. Amen, Amen, Amen, AMEN!