The Scar of America

This is a bit old in terms of news but I wasn't quite sure how to fully argue my point on it until now. The President-Elect has stated in the past that he would look at and consider closing the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. I truly believe that prison should be closed and closed as soon as possible. Here's why:

First off, let me point out that ANY and ALL U.S. military bases are considered U.S. territory. Which means that they fall under U.S. law and anyone born on a base is an automatic U.S. citizen. That being said, I believe that Guantanamo Bay is in direct violation of the 5th, 6th, and perhaps even the 8th amendments of the Constitution of the United States of America. Now, for those who say the suspected terrorists are not U.S. citizens, therefore they don't receive any protection from the Constitution; I say you are dead wrong. It does not matter if they are citizens or not, they are in U.S. custody and are therefore under the protection of U.S. law. Want proof? Have you ever heard of an "illegal alien" committing a crime (murder, drugs, etc), being booked, taken to a prison, and promptly being shot by prison officials without justification (attacking the officer, attacking another inmate, etc)? I don't think so because it would be ILLEGAL for them to do that despite the fact the perpetrator is not a citizen of the United States.

This country was founded on fairness and equality and to me Guantanamo Bay flies in the the very face of this country. When you look back at the history of this country, the only difference between the Japanese Internment camps of WWII and Guantanamo Bay is numbers of people being held. The fact that the prison there even exists and operates the way it does, causes the same image problems as torture. If the U.S. can do it, then why shouldn't we? It is extremely difficult to try and be a "moral beacon" for the rest of the world when you are at the same time being blatantly immoral. If we are willing to throw parts of the Constitution away that we don't agree with because they "complicate things", then we are no better than the people who we are fighting against! The United States that I love FOLLOWS its Constitution even at the hardest of times.



Amendment 5: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
-Constitution of the United States of America

Amendment 6: "In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and fair trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense."
-Constitution of the United States of America

Amendment 8: "Excessive bail shall not be required, not excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted."
-Constitution of the United States of America