In other words: A discussion of The Bush Administration
For some reason this morning, a bit of dialog from The Simpsons entered my head, "Oh Great, Christians". Folks, I don't mean to be picking on Christians, but let's face it: A nut is a nut, no matter what religion. Do you really think that if America was a poor ravaged nation with decades of internal strife that people like Falwell and Robertson wouldn't be advocating violence? Heck, they almost are now. Anyway here's some nice Christians:
Sympathy for Bombing Suspect May Cloud Search for Evidence
PEACHTREE, N.C., June 1 — Betty Howard made many people happy today, and it was not for her daily special. Around noon, Mrs. Howard walked outside, glanced up at the sign in front of her diner and decided to change the lettering on the marquee from "Roast Turkey Baked Ham" to "Pray for Eric Rudolph."
"Bless his heart," Mrs. Howard said. "Eric needs our help."
Mrs. Howard said she was going to start an Eric Rudolph legal defense fund. Many customers have already said they would chip in.
I guess the bombing of abortion clinics gets you up there in the whole "loved by simple minded Christians" gategory. Obviously the whole irony of killing for the sake of "though shall not kill" seems to be lost. But folks he's also accused of the Olympic Games bomb. Which means we've got our own home grown religiously motivated international terrorist. Awww shuck, I guess I'll thrown in a buck too naext time I'm at the diner, after all, he's read the bible.
See the point is we are now judging character based on a label, but do you think the actions might be a better guage of things. Like Ashcroft, he's a very good Christain, that is why he's making sure to protect oil companies that employ rapists and murderers:
Ashcroft's Justice, Burma's Crimes, and Bork's Revenge
Given the chance to protect corporate interests, the Bush administration is predictably happy to take it. Ditto for the prospect of undermining international justice.
But it's not every day that the opportunity arises to accomplish both objectives at once. It takes a case like John Doe I v. Unocal Corp., a civil damages action currently pending in U.S. federal court.
In a brief recently filed in the Unocal case, the administration - in the person of Attorney General John Ashcroft - sets out to defend an oil company, reaffirm the president's untrammeled power over foreign policy, and eviscerate a law that has provided a modicum of justice to victims of rights abuses from around the world.
...
The plaintiffs in the Unocal case are Burmese villagers who claim that they were subjected to forced labor, murder, rape, and torture during the construction of a gas pipeline through their country. Soldiers allegedly committed these abuses while providing security and other services for the pipeline project.
Jane Doe I, one of the plaintiffs in the case, testified that when her husband tried to escape the forced labor program, he was shot at by soldiers, and that, in retaliation for his attempted escape, she and her baby were thrown into a fire. Her child died and she was badly injured.
Other villagers described the summary execution of people who refused to work, or who became too weak to work effectively.
There is little doubt that such crimes occurred. They have been exhaustively documented by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and a host of other groups. In 1995, when pipeline construction was beginning, the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution urging Burma (also known as Myanmar) to put a stop to its practices of torture, forced labor and summary executions. Even the Justice Department, whose "friend of the court" brief was filed this past May 8, was willing to acknowledge the "blatant human rights abuses" committed by Burma's military government.
...
The court found that the evidence presented by the villagers supported the conclusion "that Unocal gave practical assistance to the Myanmar Military in subjecting Plaintiffs to forced labor."
As the court described it, this practical assistance "took the form of hiring the Myanmar Military to provide security and build infrastructure along the pipeline route in exchange for money or food." The assistance "also took the form of using photos, surveys, and maps in daily meetings to show the Myanmar Military where to provide security and build infrastructure."
Moreover, the court found, the evidence supported the conclusion "that Unocal gave 'encouragement' to the Myanmar Military in subjecting Plaintiffs to forced labor."
But Unocal pumps oil, and you all remember the bible verse that say: "Thou shalt not rape or kill, nor should though protect those that do, save for if there is oil in the equation then heck rape, kill, and protect away. Jesus drives a hummer too you know."
Seriously folks, I have, on more then one occasion have someone defend Ashcroft in a conversation with the statement, "I have faith he's doing the right thing, he is a good Christian." Folks, I'm not an authority on this, but from what I understand of the new testament, Ashcroft is NOT a good Christian. Saying you are does not give you the right to do serious evil, whether you are Attorney General, Eric Rudolph (if he is guilty), or a Catholic priest. Sorry. In the end you are who you are, not what you believe. Because I've always believed I was Superman, and either every woman in the world is wearing lead clothes, or I'm definitely not Superman.
- rob 1:46 PM - [PermaLink] -
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