Truth and Reconciliation
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Thu, 11/06/2008 - 15:06
When South Africa elected its first Black President, they set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate human rights abuses during the years of apartheid, as well as address the needs of victims and consider amnesty to individuals that applied. Should the Obama administration consider something similar?
Many of my liberal friends want to see Bush, Cheney other members of their administration tried as war criminals. They want to see people that they believe have subverted the constitution by secret meetings with lobbyists to establish policy, particularly energy policy, that have used the powers of the Judiciary to pursue opponents and disrupt voting, and a list of other offences brought to justice. They want to see titans of Wall Street that have contributed to our current financial malaise face prosecution.
Such actions might bring gratification to many, but will it bring about the change that President-Elect Obama has called for? Or will it be just another chapter in a long list of victors punishing the defeated?
Instead, if we follow the example of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, we could find ways to get to the bottom of many of the problems that have faced our country over the past eight years. We could make progress in curbing the divisiveness and petty partisanship that has so damaged our democracy.
How much change are we willing to take on? Are we willing to change ourselves as part of this change? It will be interesting to see if President-Elect Obama can get partisans to sacrifice some of their partisanship for the good of the country.
Unfair comparison
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/07/2008 - 00:55.Though I agree with your closing remarks that a toning-down of partisan politics is a change that needs to be made in the US, and that changing ourselves (all of us: left and right share the blame for the low state of politics) is the necessary first step to that end, I was disappointed that you lead into the post with the grossly unfair comparison of the Bush administration to apartheid in South Africa.
Disagree with every Bush policy, be happy to see his administration end, but what in the world has Bush done, what is the reality in the US today, that is comparable to the moral abomination of the institutionalized oppression of one race by another that was apartheid? Certainly, the US has its share of current failings, and Bush shares the blame for some of them, but, thank God, nothing as horrendous as apartheid.
Let's put the demonizing hyperbole behind us, and work together for positive change.
--
David Meyer
Takarazuka, Japan
papa@jtan.com
Torture and Oppression
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Fri, 11/07/2008 - 10:24.There are many that believe that institutionalized support of torture and institutionalized oppression of one race by another are part and parcel of the same fear-based man's inhumanity to man.
Beyond that, many have noted that the feared 'other', that it is somehow justifiable to oppress, has simply shifted from the black man to the Arab or Muslim.
We need to acknowledge how all of our fears of the "other" leads us to act inhumanely to our fellow men. We need truth, and we need reconciliation.
I believe that that seeking truth and reconciliation is the best way to move beyond demonizing hyperbole and towards working together for positive change.
Even condemning the
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 11/07/2008 - 14:29.Even condemning the interrogation techniques used on Guantanamo detainees, the treatment of a small group of illegal combatants in war time is not equivalent to the permanent oppression of an entire race.
I also challenge you, or the "many" you cite, to show any systematic oppression of Arabs or Muslims as a class in the US today. (And no, racial profiling, even if it is widespread, does not approach anywhere near the injustice of apartheid.) I can't speak for every American, but President Bush in particular has made clear since 9/11 that our enemies are terrorists, not Arabs or Muslims, either in the US or abroad.
Aldon, I know you're motivated by a love for our country and feel shocked when the US doesn't live up to its ideals of justice. I share those feelings. But we have to keep perspective that in spite of some warts the US's ideals of justice are the highest in the world and our achievements of social justice are among the highest of any nation at any time in history.
If George W. Bush is to be judged, let him be judged as a democratic leader who implemented some controversial policies, and not the oppressive tyrant as many caricature him.
--
David
That's why a TRC is important
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 11:51.If, in fact, there is no systemic oppression of people of various races or cultures, if, in fact, President Bush simply carried out controversial policies, and did not commit any crimes, then they should be glad about a chance to demonstrate this to a friendly Truth and Reconciliation Commission, instead of to a heavy handed Congressional Inquiry or a trial before the world court, as so many others are calling for.
I think the "Truth and
Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 12:12.I think the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" you allude to was necessary in South Africa.
It would more appropriately be called "a witch hunt" here in America. And it would be ablout as successful in finding "real" witches as it was in Salem, Massachusetts.
The demonizing of George Bush was the most baseless and ridiculous propaganda ever offered in America.
Those proposing this "truth and reconciliation" commission should be ashamed.
How do you think the Clinton Administration would have fared under such scrutiny as you have proposed?
Liberal media bias is on your side, and on the side of the administration, now. Rest assured, though, there are watch dogs. If the Democrats go too far, there will be a backlash that will prevent their electoral success for decades. As freedom-loving Americans, we will not forget.
Demonizing Bush? I don't think so
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 11/08/2008 - 15:52.However, I don't believe that the efforts to find out if people have broken the law with regards to our national security, as an example from the Plame case, or whether people have damaged our democracy by using the Justice Department illegally for political motives, as it the case with the firing of the U.S. Attorneys have anything to do with demonizing President Bush.
As a matter of fact, I don't believe that either of those cases have anything to do with President Bush at all, unless he was somehow involved in encouraging members of his administration to break the law.
I don't believe that is the case, yet by trying to cast this as a demonization of President Bush, you are making it sound as if you believe he might have some culpability.