Why Justice Is Still Important Years After the Offenses - Franco, Bush, Torture, and Human Rights
An international court based in Argentina is hearing the charges of human rights abuses under the military regime of Francisco Franco during his time as leader of Spain from the 1930's to the 1970's.
To this point, Spain has given amnesty to all the actions done under Franco's regime in order to try to bring peace between the deeply divided nation.
However, as time has passed on, more and more people are unsatisfied with that response- they are seeking some type of justice, or at the minimum recognition, for the great human rights abuses which were committed under Franco's rule.
Peace and harmony is deeply important; but justice and the truth cannot be sacrificed in order to avoid any type of disharmony in the country.
I think there are large parallels to the last Bush administration's actions and the issues of amnesty and justice.
While the Bush Administration came nowhere near the human right's abuses of the Franco Administration, there were certainly U.
S.
and international laws that were defied during their administration- whether it was through the use of torture, defying the Bill of Rights, or dishonesty about the events leading to the attack on Iraq.
I also understand why it is politically disastrous for the Obama administration to go after them-because it will be seen as simply the other side attacking their political enemies.
However, at some time, and at some point, the minimum of an investigation and a case needs to be held.
The goal is not revenge or satisfying our anger.
Ultimately, what the American people need is not for Rumsfeld or Cheney to go to jail, what they need is the truth to come out and at least be acknowledged.
People need to have the comfort and realization that in the end, even government officials will be held responsible for their actions and that no one is above the law.
I hope that the court in Argentina opens up these cases, because they are important for the cause of justice and human rights.
In the future, the violations caused under the Bush Administration should also be brought to the light and judged, because by refusing to do this, we are making a mockery of our system of law and justice, more importantly we are diminishing the importance of international human rights and making it easier for these abuses to occur in the future.
For the sake of democracy, we have to keep our elected officials accountable
To this point, Spain has given amnesty to all the actions done under Franco's regime in order to try to bring peace between the deeply divided nation.
However, as time has passed on, more and more people are unsatisfied with that response- they are seeking some type of justice, or at the minimum recognition, for the great human rights abuses which were committed under Franco's rule.
Peace and harmony is deeply important; but justice and the truth cannot be sacrificed in order to avoid any type of disharmony in the country.
I think there are large parallels to the last Bush administration's actions and the issues of amnesty and justice.
While the Bush Administration came nowhere near the human right's abuses of the Franco Administration, there were certainly U.
S.
and international laws that were defied during their administration- whether it was through the use of torture, defying the Bill of Rights, or dishonesty about the events leading to the attack on Iraq.
I also understand why it is politically disastrous for the Obama administration to go after them-because it will be seen as simply the other side attacking their political enemies.
However, at some time, and at some point, the minimum of an investigation and a case needs to be held.
The goal is not revenge or satisfying our anger.
Ultimately, what the American people need is not for Rumsfeld or Cheney to go to jail, what they need is the truth to come out and at least be acknowledged.
People need to have the comfort and realization that in the end, even government officials will be held responsible for their actions and that no one is above the law.
I hope that the court in Argentina opens up these cases, because they are important for the cause of justice and human rights.
In the future, the violations caused under the Bush Administration should also be brought to the light and judged, because by refusing to do this, we are making a mockery of our system of law and justice, more importantly we are diminishing the importance of international human rights and making it easier for these abuses to occur in the future.
For the sake of democracy, we have to keep our elected officials accountable
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