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polly7
polly7's Journal
polly7's Journal
April 1, 2013
Its true that, last week, few in Congress cared to discuss, no less memorialize, the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Nonetheless, two anniversaries of American disasters and crimes abroad -- the mission accomplished debacle of 2003 and the 45th anniversary of the My Lai massacre -- were at least noted in passing in our world. In my hometown paper, the New York Times, the Iraq anniversary was memorialized with a lead op-ed by a former advisor to General David Petraeus who, amid the rubble, went in search of all-American silver linings.
Still, in our post-9/11 world, there are so many other anniversaries from hell whose silver linings dont get noticed. Take this April. It will be the ninth anniversary of the widespread release of the now infamous photos of torture, abuse, and humiliation from Abu Ghraib. In case youve forgotten, that was Saddam Husseins old prison where the U.S. military taught the fallen Iraqi dictator a trick or two about the destruction of human beings. Shouldnt there be an anniversary of some note there? I mean, how many cultures have turned dog collars (and the dogs that go with them), thumbs-up signs over dead bodies, and a mockery of the crucified Christ into screensavers?
Full Article: http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/big-anniversaries-remind-us-americas-dark-side-abu-graib-usa-patriot-act-my-lai
More anniversaries that 'Slipped by Too Easily'
Big Anniversaries That Remind Us of America's Dark Side -- Abu Graib, USA Patriot Act, My Lai Massacre -- Slipped by Too Easily
We must strain to civilize ourselves and this country, and that means remembering our crimes against humanity.
TomDispatch / By Tom Engelhardt
March 28, 2013 |
Its true that, last week, few in Congress cared to discuss, no less memorialize, the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Nonetheless, two anniversaries of American disasters and crimes abroad -- the mission accomplished debacle of 2003 and the 45th anniversary of the My Lai massacre -- were at least noted in passing in our world. In my hometown paper, the New York Times, the Iraq anniversary was memorialized with a lead op-ed by a former advisor to General David Petraeus who, amid the rubble, went in search of all-American silver linings.
Still, in our post-9/11 world, there are so many other anniversaries from hell whose silver linings dont get noticed. Take this April. It will be the ninth anniversary of the widespread release of the now infamous photos of torture, abuse, and humiliation from Abu Ghraib. In case youve forgotten, that was Saddam Husseins old prison where the U.S. military taught the fallen Iraqi dictator a trick or two about the destruction of human beings. Shouldnt there be an anniversary of some note there? I mean, how many cultures have turned dog collars (and the dogs that go with them), thumbs-up signs over dead bodies, and a mockery of the crucified Christ into screensavers?
Full Article: http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/big-anniversaries-remind-us-americas-dark-side-abu-graib-usa-patriot-act-my-lai
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayHometown: Saskatchewan
Home country: Canada
Member since: Sat Jul 9, 2005, 11:46 PM
Number of posts: 20,582