Hats off to Old White Lady for the tip on this article at Why Now called Framing the American Gulag. Bryan says that for our government to claim suicide an act of war is paranoid. While I agree in this case -- conditions at Gitmo are deplorable, holding people without charging them, without regard to rule of law -- Guantanamo is a camp similar to those camps our government created for Japanese Americans during World War II. The detainees are suffering from depression, despair, complete and utter hopelessness.
However, I recall the Bhuddist Monks self-immolating in South Viet Nam during the early stages of the "Police Action", as we sent "Military Advisors" over to get involved. Suicide was an act of war at that time. It got the attention of plenty of people -- and it was necessary. Horrific, but it was a necessary, selfless act.
I don't believe the suicides in Guantanamo are consciously political -- I believe they are the last act made by hopeless men who have been robbed of their right to due process. They are being made political by the Administration, and I suspect that it will backfire -- that it will help to unmask conditions, and help to draw attention to the lies and obfuscation this government dumps on us.
What do we do next? Someone please tell me what's next, because I feel like we're drowning in a cement of lies.
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I honestly believe that by the time the average Joe comprehends what is going on, it'll be too late. Then there will (and must be) open rebellion. What other way is there? It isn't as if this hasn't happend in thousands of countries in the past... it always comes to the same end.
History will not stop repeating itself 'til we learn from it. And we just don't.
Today I read an article at Blanton & Ashtons about Gitmo, a powerful condemnation of the dehumanization of both prisoners and guards. But we are not all imprisoned in this destruction of human dignity -- some of us are outraged, and taking action. And if it comes to open rebellion, so be it. When finally the NY Times has an editorial (today)demanding that Congress bring a stop to Bush's extralegal and secret activities, then the average Joe will start to say no more.
At least, I hope so.
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