In his Dec. 31 Local View commentary, "Be a patriot, denounce torture," Trevor Swoverland condemned torture in a very compelling and convincing manner. He referred to Arar v. Ashcroft, before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. The defendant and others were sent overseas without due process to face interrogation and often torture in relation to alleged terrorist connections.
Quoting the Declaration of Independence: "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Swoverland argued, "It is flagrant hypocrisy claiming to be patriotic while at the same time standing idly by while basic human rights are being systematically denied to fellow human beings."
The 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade on Jan. 22 is a moment to ponder the infamous Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in all trimesters of pregnancy. About 50 million unborn humans have been killed since 1973 by surgical, mechanical and chemical means. This is the American holocaust. Truly, "It is flagrant hypocrisy claiming to be patriotic standing idly by while basic human rights are being systematically denied to fellow human beings."
Be a patriot and denounce torture. Patriotism will never be an authentic virtue until all Americans pray and work together to restore a "culture of life," respecting life from the moment of creation/fertilization until natural death. Let us be honest and have integrity when we pledge allegiance to "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all."
Rosemary Agnew
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Duluth
