Executive Order: Close Down Guantánamo Bay

“We intend to win this fight, but we are going to win it on our terms.” President Obama, made this statement yesterday, January 22, 2009.

President Obama signed three executive orders yesterday, one of which was to close down Guantanamo Bay.

President Obama also said, “The message that we are sending the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly and we are going to do so effectively and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals.”

Guantanamo Bay’s prison has been plagued with rumors and accusations of torture and humiliation of prisoners. While some citizens might not see where that is a problem, others will readily acknowledge this is a very serious problem. Our system is based on the precept all people are created equal and ‘entitled to a fair’ trial. These prisoners are being held under ’suspision’ of crimes. Held for years without the benefit of trial, some with only the ’suspision’ of guilt by association — no proof! (If you know someone who robbed a bank, does that make you guilty too?)

When we give in to the idea of ‘acceptance’ of practices we know are unfair, torturous or inhumane, we become the very people we despise, the very terrorists we are fighting against — and accuse them [the prisoners] of being.

If we are to remain the Greatest Nation on Earth, we must raise our standards of justice, not sully them by turning a blind eye to the reality of what is going on, and has been going on for years at Guantanamo Bay’s prison.

President Obama, you get double kudos from me, for taking the first step towards Justice concerning the prisoners and detainees at Guantanomo Bay.

This is not to state there aren’t some concerns with the terms of President Obama’s Executive Order to close down Guantanamo Bay.

Transcripts of the executive order, along with a video clip can be found at the following link: DailyKOSTV

Executive Order Removes Ban | Abortion

Thirty-six years ago, [in a landmark decision] in the case of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court legalized abortion.

Now comes the President of ‘change’ with an executive order, lifting the ban on federal funding of overseas abortions. Broadening the acceptibility of abortion by reversing the policy of his predecessor. Now we can fund foreign abortions on top of everything else our government funds with our tax dollars.

The policy [reversed] required non-governmental organizations to agree prior to receipt of U.S. Funds, that they would “neither perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations.” Known as the ‘Global Gag Rule’ for prohibiting taxpayer funding for groups that so much as ‘talked’ about abortion where there was an unplanned pregnancy.

I will most likely take a verbal beating from other women for the following, but I’ve never been one to hold my tongue on important issues.

OK, President Obama, I gave you double kudos for taking action on Guantanamo Bay; but on the issue of abortion, you have failed our unborn children.

How can you support [and basically promote] abortion on any level, much less in this fashion? You talk of the future holding as much opportunity for our daughters as for our sons. How does abortion provide more opportunity for our daughters? By killing our grandchildren?

We are teaching the youth of today life has no value — when we can dispose of it at convenience. Hence, the real problem is in the teaching. I would much prefer you sign an executive order ensuring funds for adequate education across the board. Public schools across the country are in dire need of funding. Parents volunteering as class assistants, schools requesting supplies such as paper towels, bathroom tissue, hand soap, pencils, pens, paper, and the list goes long! Why?

The answer to this will take me back to that word “accountability” which I believe should be synonymous with your favorite word — change. Provide enough funding and regulate that funding via accountability to educate our children. Educate our children to be responsible human beings in society, manner, and self respect.

When we are too blind to see our own shortcomings to supply even the basic needs of our children, how can we expect our children to learn basic ‘good’ character traits, much less possess better traits than we ourselves possess? Children learn more by example than they do by reading directives contained within the printed pages of a book.

On a deeper level, children discover their value by the value we place upon them. They learn by the examples we teach through our actions, or lack thereof.

Then let’s take this a few steps further by holding yourself and the rest of our government ‘accountable’ for any and all action or lack thereof. Now that, in my opinion, is real CHANGE.