While the journalistic gold standard bearer would have you believe that an obscenity trial in Florida and/or the Math and Reading scores of horrid little monsters in New York are worthy news-stories, the fact is they're not. The only real obscenity is pretending that these things matter a great deal, and yes I'm extra pissy today, but it's because I just finished reading this devastating article from Salon about the illegal detainment, abuses of justice, and torture of MINORS, occurring at Guantanamo. It's outrageous, horrific and deeply, deeply sad. These children -- and they most certainly are children , or they were when they were apprehended -- have been detained for YEARS. The U.S. has violated international law and every code of decency in its treatment of these boys and if reading this article doesn't break your heart, then nothing will. Please, I beg you, if you don't already do it, add alternative reading to your news source if you're only looking at the NY Times. Add The Nation or Salon or BBC News, or go to Commondreams.org and find news stories that are actually important. I feel like a terrible person reading about fucking test scores while these boys have been restricted from access to education (one is even described as illiterate). I know this blog was all about criticizing the NY Times -- and it is -- but this story really rattled me.
3 comments:
So is the latest Supreme Court ruling completely ineffectual? I'd have to go back and search through the articles covering their decision, but shouldn't the decision have some kind of efficacy? Or is the Supreme Court like the judges on American Idol now? Just mere commentators jostling with each other for supremacy, with no real influence over the outcome of the big picture? (Come on you owe me for making you watch it again this season - Cook was worth it.)
This story is pretty horrifying though. Thanks for posting it.
Also, you need a job.
The Supreme Court ruling is very limited: all it does is guarantee Habeas Corpus, eventually. So prisoners are permitted, to some extent, to challenge the legitimacy of their detention by filing a writ. It doesn't speed up the process or allow for the other rights normally afforded to those with access to the courts. It also only just happened, and the Bush administration will no doubt drag their feet in implementing it, however the defense attorneys howl.
Post a Comment