AI, AI, AI

Amnesty International (AI) released its 2005 report yesterday. And wants you to believe that Human Rights are in retreat. And they represent one country as an example that you wouldn't expect to see there: the United States of America.

So, we got on the list as the bad example, not the one to follow! How come? Here are some reasons:

• The president has unlimited and uncontrollable powers, as such he can declare anyone an 'enemy combatant', taking away their constitutional rights. (Only dictatorships permit similar measures.)
  
• The US does not apply justice equally, it wants its government and all people dealing on its behalf exempt from prosecution for crimes. Thus, the US does not participate in the International Criminal Court, even though all participants rights are as well protected as in the US judicial system. (Putting us at a level with Libya and China. Even Afghanistan recognizes the court now.)
• We permit detainment of any non-US citizen without access to the judicial system.
• Torture is used as a technique on detainees, even though it was renamed (now sensoric manipulation or putting detainees in stress situations/positions)
  
• The US randomly kidnaps what it considers suspects in the 'war on terror'. Those people are usually transferred to countries that permit torture, to better get 'information'. Several mishaps occurred: A German national was kidnapped and held, leading to tensions in US-German relations (similar problems with Italy). Other reports here and here.
  
• And, of course (its amnesty, what do you think), the death penalty and police brutality.

All that information actually went over our news channels, and (as with many other international news stories) I think correctly represents the facts. However, not that many people here in the US seem to care. Or to care enough, since those facts probably don't apply to you or anyone you know. Problem is that that's the start of human rights getting more and more elusive.

We may not think much about those stories, but America usually sets the standards in the world, and it would be a really bad example to set a low or weakening standard on human rights. I certainly like writing those lines without any fear of being jailed by my government tomorrow, and that should be so for everyone in the world. Sadly, that is not the case. The situation in other countries is much, much worse than it is here.

Cherish what we've got, but don't forget that many fight with their lives on the line for the freedom we already enjoy. And take a look at the AI report, it's a sad but necessary read.