Reservations, Concentration, Internment, Detention Camps: Always Illegal? Always Immoral?

Today, and for the foreseeable future, Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp remains open. The camp currently holds over two hundred prisoners that have never been convicted of a crime. These men are being held against their will, against their country's desires, and against every law. The Bush Administration started this camp in the name of fighting terrorism but that has been nothing but a farce. Lawrence Wilkerson, a member of George W. Bush's Cabinet as the Secretary of States Chief of Staff, spoke out vehemently about the illegal actions regarding Guantanamo. He states that Bush and his staff have claimed knowledge that most of the inmates are innocent and not involved with any type of crime, let alone terrorism.

Prisoners have claimed to be tortured daily by sensory deprivation, stress positions, and other heinous forms of punishment. Their hunger strikes forcibly stopped by shoving tubes up their noses and down their throats, their requests for trial denied, and they are emasculated and religiously persecuted. All of this is being done because our government created a loophole through which it does not need to follow the law nor be accountable to it. Since Guantanamo technically is not on U.S. land it does not need to abide by the Constitution. Further, the Bush Administration just decided that these prisoners, because of their status as "extraordinarily dangerous", were not entitled to protection under the Geneva Conventions. Thankfully that has been overturned.

When America did it to the Native Americans with Reservations, it was wrong. When Hitler did it to the Jewish People with Concentration Camps, it was wrong. When America did it to Japanese Americans with Internment Camps, it was wrong. When America is doing it now to Muslims and Arabs with Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, it is wrong. The prejudice and persecution of a people because of fear has been governing humanity for far too long. How long do we ignore it? When will we end it?