A missed opportunity
In his responses to his former pastor Barack Obama has missed an opportunity to help lift America out of our ignorance regarding some of our misbehavior. Reverend Wright is right: the United States government is capable of anything -- and so are you and I.
We should worry most when we claim it is not possible we can be as bad as others. Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."
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We put safeguards in place because we recognize bad things can happen if we're not eternally vigilant.
Recounting blots on our record does not detract from great things the United States has done. Examining our behavior, admitting our mistakes, making amends, and striving to improve indicates strength of character. Not doing so leads to more and worse abuses.
Here are a few of our failures.
Treatment of the American Indians including abrogation of treaties, the "Trail of Tears," and the massacre at Wounded Knee; slavery; firebombing of Dresden; assassination and deposing of South Vietnam's president Diem and, democratically elected presidents Mosadek of Iran Allende of Chile; radiation, LSD, and the Tuskegee syphilis experiments all on unknowing people; detention of U.S.citizens of Japanese descent during World War II; kidnapping people and secretly imprisoning them indefinitely without charges, opportunity of appeal, or access to legal counsel; violation of the Geneva conventions against torture.
Failing to exercise control over our children is neglectful. Failing to hold our government accountable neglects our responsibilities as citizens. Children and countries are held accountable by those who love them.
There is some degree of truth to some of Jeremiah Wright's complaints. Those of us who love our country will look into the mirror he holds up, examine ourselves, differentiate fact from fiction, admit our failings, and put safeguards in place to prevent future abuses.
Michael C. Martin
Hellam Township
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