The U.S. Is Responsible For Canadian's Torture

You may have heard about this story where a Canadian on a layover in New York was kidnapped by U.S. officials and deported to Syria through Jordan. By allowing this man to be turned over to a country that openly violates human rights, we are equally responsible for this man’s sorrow. When the American officials realized he would not be able to provide any of the answers they wanted they acted as judge and jury, convicting him of terrorism and committing him to unreasonable and inhumane torture. We should apologize to this man, his wife and his two young children but I know that will never happen.

Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Our treatment of foreigners since 9/11 is despicable. I am simultaneously thankful and ashamed that this man gets to tell his story. We have not stooped to the low point that China and Syria so often do. We do not commit heinous acts like the ones mentioned in this story on our own soil, but it is clear that we willingly release people into the hands of countries that have no such qualms. I pray that we are treating the men at Guantanmo Bay humanely. It may be treasonous to say this: If we aren’t, I hope those men get a chance to tell their stories, too.

Posted by etrigan at November 6, 2003 9:30 PM