Symbols are important; they are mute yet they speak volumes. The flag of the United States of America testifies to our commitment to freedom, democracy and equality. A society that wishes to thrive and prosper will respect and protect its symbols. 

America has many symbols like Old Glory, The Statue of Liberty and The Golden Gate Bridge that are beacons attracting millions of immigrants who deeply desire to live the American Dream.

Just as there are symbols that represent the best that American has to offer, there are also symbols that demonstrate that even the greatest country in the world can lose sight of its vision.

The Guantanamo prison camp is a horrible symbol that broadcasts to the whole world the wretched excesses of the Bush administration. Under the cover of the ‘war on terrorism’ Bush is making a mockery of the Constitution of the United States and the Geneva Conventions.

From the Miami Herald:

‘Two military judges’ dismissal of charges against two detainees in separate hearings at the Guantanamo prison camp are just two more reasons why Defense Secretary Robert Gates should close the facility. After five years, Guantanamo is still just a holding facility for both bona fide terror suspects and men who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. â?¦

After the Supreme Court found parts of the legal process to be unconstitutional, Congress passed the Military Commissions Act, which set up a dual tribunal system to judge detainees. The process denied them either habeas corpus or due process rights, bedrocks of U.S. jurisprudence. The administration says that as long as the detainees are kept in Guantanamo, they are beyond the reach of U.S. civilian law.’

I couldn’t agree more with this Miami Herald editorial; Bush is adverse to admitting mistakes and he will never bring our troops home from Iraq and he will never close the Guantanamo prison camp.

It is incumbent upon freedom-loving Americans to elect a president in 2008 who will close Gitmo. Foreigners admire America because they know that our legal standard is ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

In Guantanamo the prevailing standard is ‘we don’t care if you are guilty or innocent, and we will torture you until you admit you are guilty.’ I will celebrate when this wretched symbol is bulldozed.