Impatience and the rush to judgment.

[cali]

My mother who's an old liberal- she'll be 90 in June- made a comment to me the other night on the phone. She's got all her marbles and she's been politically active for oh, 70 years or so. We were talking about the torture prosecutions, and she said "Americans are so impatient". Now, granted, my mother who grew up in France and Italy and who lives in London most of the time, can be very snarky about Americans, even though she is one. I'll never forget what she said about Americans and 9/11; she said we're a nation of scab pickers.

Anyway, her point should be obvious, and I think it's true. We live in the ultimate instant gratification culture and that extends to politics and to justice.

Prosecuting anyone for torture is going to take careful groundwork and time. You aren't going to wake up one morning to find Cheney in the dock. It's not a movie where everything gets neatly wrapped up.

Patience is needed along with speaking out and organizing to pressure congress to investigate.

[Hutzpa]

1. A woman is expected

to give birth today and the baby starts walking tomorrow.

Its the Washington attitude of instant gratification that has infected
this nation.

[monmouth]

2. Great post and how lucky you are Cali to still have your mother....n/t

[vaberella]

3. Hi-Five Cali. Thanks so much for it and your mum is right!! n/t

[Captain Hilts]

4. I agree with this, but a lot of mixed signals are coming from the Admin.

Here's hoping this press conference today clears those things up.

[grantcart]

5. What took you so long?

I have been waiting for your OP for the last 3 minutes.

[JuniperLea]

6. The Obama administration is nothing if not careful...

Measured, and complete before it makes a move. Rope A Dope takes some preparation as well.

I agree with your mother.

[liberalmuse]

7. I knew this would happen.

It always does with President Obama. It wasn't a rude letter or anything. I just asked President Obama not to turn the page on torture. I was going to wait a few more days to see how this would unfold before I even sent the letter because President Obama usually comes out with something that makes it unnecessary for me to even write. Chalk it up to impatience.

[Occam Bandage]

8. It's been literally minutes since you wrote that. And STILL they haven't hanged Cheney.

I'm fed up.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

9. I think it was the "impatient" ones who turned the ocean liner.

Enough outrage was voiced through enough channels to make it clear that "reflection" was inadequate. It is very possible that President Obama did not mean exactly what many took his words to mean. But the fact that many (including me) did take his words that way was enough to spark some righteous indignation, again from many sources, some mainstream some not.

I've never been one to stay back when I think someone is going down the wrong path. I didn't do it for Clinton, I didn't do it for Bush and I'm not going to start with President Obama.

People voiced opinions of hurt, shock, yes, even outrage because IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO DO SO. It was timely. It is/was what we are talking about. It will be what we are talking about for months, if not years to come. It had nothing to do with "impatience" or a "rush to judgment". I never saw one single post or opinion from anyone anywhere that seemed to imply that anyone ever thought it would be short or easy. As many did state, we've waited YEARS already to see the mills of the gods start slowly grinding away. I've got nothing but patience.

[cali]

10. I think you have it exactly backwards. It's those who understand

that it takes patience and persevere who make a difference.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. You might read my post again. It seems like you missed the entire point. nt

[PassingFair]

12. Agree.

Perhaps Rahm's "no prosecutions"
line was a trial balloon...

Either way, we need to make
a CLAMOR, or we don't get
heard at all.

[babylonsister]

13. Your mom is right. We could all learn a a thing or two from her. nt