American Government (in)justice

I have written about this before – many times – but I repeat again that injustice is the root of most of the problems in the world today. When governments, of whatever persuasion, start hiding their activities from their own people then you know that there is a problem and this arouses my sense of outrage. Injustice and unethical behaviour are inexcusable.   

While (generally) I hold America and Americans in high regard I am particularly targeting their Government’s “holier than thou” attitude and a “do as I say, not as I do” approach to some policies which I find offensive and unworthy of the American people.

I know that politics is a dirty game but denying illegal or unethical activities and behaviour is taking things too far. In this regard the American Government has lost its “moral high ground” with the treatment of those in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre (Gitmo), by the vitriol directed at Julian Assange (Wikileaks founder), Bradley Manning (American soldier who is alleged to have supplied Wikileaks with information) and whistle blowers generally. Other countries (including Australia) are guilty of similar offences.

It is necessary to examine the issues impartially because this is very important.

If a government, American, or that of any country conceals information from its population how can voters make an informed judgement on the effectiveness or otherwise of that government? Especially, as mentioned above, if the information so concealed may be of such an unethical or illegal nature that any disclosure would diminish the government’s standing in the eyes of the voting public and cause the officials concerned much discomfort!

This is where whistle blowers such as Bradley Manning and Julian Assange are, as far as I am concerned, performing a valuable service – not just to the American public but for mankind generally. It is necessary, for any individual’s or government’s well-being to be shown up for what they are, prone to unethical activities, lying and plain criminal behaviour (unfortunately all of us are at times guilty of these).  Unless governments and individuals acknowledge their weaknesses how can they correct their errors and aspire to reach their full potential? How else can the voting public be given enough information to know if they want or need a change of government other than by the information provided by whistle-blowers? Without this information the voting public is in danger of being manipulated, against their wishes.

Whistle blowers need to be commended for their actions, not condemned.

The American Government, in particular, has forgotten or chosen to ignore the fact that their Declaration of Independence includes the basic tenet that people have certain rights, and when a government violates these rights, the people have the right to "alter or abolish" that government ...!  

Also remember that America is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (as is Australia). This states in the preamble that, “All human beings are born with equal and inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms.”  It goes on to declare in:

Articles 6:

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article10:

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

 Article 19:

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

It would appear that the Americans by holding inmates indefinitely in Guantanamo Bay detention centre and by their treatment of whistle-blowers generally, are violating many of the most fundamental human rights and I ask the question “Why?” I also ask the Australian Government a similar question – why hold individuals (“illegal boat people”) in indefinite detention without judicial review or recourse to the courts? Such actions promote injustice and are plain wrong and will be subject to unintended consequences.

I strongly suspect that this abrogation of  basic Human Rights stems from the fact that officials are discomforted by the disclosures which, in turn, generates a desire to punish whistle blowers for showing to the world that Americans (or Australians) are not as ethical, as just or morally correct as they would like to be known for.  Their declared abhorrence, almost a hatred of whistle blowers is testament to this.

Those who fail or refuse to do good in the face of evil are sowing some dangerous seeds. It worth recalling the famous quote by the British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-1797):

“All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.”

Father Time - On growing old (or older).

Some people have a fear about growing old. They try to ignore it or fight it with every means at their disposal. We can see this in the plethora of programmes on TV showing how people go about getting a personal ‘make-over’ and teams given seven days to get someone to look ten years younger, and such like. The only ones who really benefit from all this are the medicos, advertisers and the TV stations.

The trouble is this is a losing battle and a ‘fight’ that can never be won! We all grow old. This is just an inescapable fact of nature. Some, particularly women it seems to me, may find this difficult to accept but inevitably they will grow old – and, with time, they will show it. Why not just accept the inexorable passage of Time? It was not called Father Time for nothing. Time has to be respected, in fact respect is demanded on pain of death!

We all have a mental image of what we look like; possibly how we would like to appear, to both ourselves and others. We all try to look our best - for us. But it is how we feel that makes the difference, and is what really counts in the long run.

I have found that the older I become, my expectations alter accordingly. I know there are certain activities I am no longer capable of doing, at least not to the same level of enthusiasm and ability as before. I know that I no longer have that grace and fluidity of movement that is part of being young. My muscles, certainly, are not as strong as they used to be; my tendons have lost much of their elasticity and my joints have stiffened somewhat and now I have my recently replaced knee joint – made from titanium. But I certainly do not feel ‘old’ – whatever that is supposed to feel like. My mind is still quite active and I hope to keep it that way by studying (psychology in my case) and writing as much as I can.

Age also has the benefit of allowing hindsight – I have nearly eight decades of experience to draw upon. Age also mellows expectations; life no longer has that intensity and urgency of youth. In the great scheme of things, if something does not happen today, or tomorrow, does it really matter?

There is another benefit that comes with age; age, in most cases, brings with it some wisdom; some ability to see further into life’s situations and to accept them for what they are. One learns to understand that everything has its place in the creation and what is more important, everything comes to pass; even life itself.

Peace of mind comes with this acceptance.

To me a good life consists of living for each day, being content with my lot (whatever ‘hand of cards fate has dealt’ me), not trying to change the world to suite my reduced capabilities but to adapt to the situation or circumstance as it is presented.

Most important of all time must be spent in developing and maintaining good relationships with family and friends – what and where would we be without them! It goes without saying that part of building and maintaining relationships is helping others, as best one can, to understand what life means, particularly children, because they are the future.

It would be a pleasing and satisfying thought, for me, if my life’s work may have contributed, in some small way, to my leaving this world a better place than I found it when I was born – right in the early years of the Second World War! But I am not building up my hopes too high!!