Torture

A good name is to be more desired than great riches... -- Proverbs 22:1

President Obama did a brave thing by making public documents revealing torture committed by the United States. Unfortunately, President Obama did a cowardly thing by saying he will let the past be the past.

I'll admit that I'm personally OK with not punishing the "regular Joes and Janes" who follow orders. I know they are guilty, but they are in a tough situation when they have no power. BUT I believe the people who made these orders possible need to be brought to justice. This includes President George W Bush. No, I'm not a Bush-basher. Some people are so anti-Bush that it is counter-productive. This is different. The president must never be above the law.

I love the United States of America. I want us to be the good guys. There is never an excuse for torture. It is morally bankrupt. It does not retrieve reliable information. It gives fuel to our enemies. It puts our troops at risk when they are captured. These reasons are not even about Christianity. These reasons are simply about being a good citizen of the world.

I pray that justice is done. This is not because I want to see Bush or anybody else suffer. Frankly, I'm a bleeding heart when it comes to punishment. The reason is because we must make this right. We cannot move forward unless and until we restore our name. If torture is not punished it will happen again.

I've written my representatives about this. I encourage you to do the same. However, regardless of what those in official power do, we the people can make our voices known. We can name evil when we see it. We can be heard. We will be heard.