February 5, 2005

I have initiated a petition in my town of Weston, collecting signatures for a resolution by our community against torture by our government. With enough signatures, I hope to bring about a Special Town Meeting whereby we would discuss, amend and vote on the resolution to be sent to our representatives in Washington.

Amazingly, more than a few people have responded with genuine astonishment and asked, "Torture? Who are we torturing?". To answer that question, I now hand out a two-page flyer that contains excerpts from mainstream news articles and official FBI documents that outline in gruesome detail the degree and scope of these atrocities being committed by our government.

As for why I am making this a town issue, where we normally get together to deal with local issues of taxes, school bonds, and road access, my answer is this:

As Americans, we can disagree on a lot of big issues.

We can disagree about Social Security and whether privatization is a good or bad thing, or whether it will strengthen or destroy the program; we can disagree about the huge deficit, and whether it is sound fiscal policy to run one as high as ours or not; we can disagree on gay marriage and debate whether or not it will impact the moral fiber of our nation. We can disagree across the board on these issues and walk away from the fiery debate still connected to each other by the common thread of our basic American sense of liberty and freedom.

We cannot disagree about torture. We simply cannot survive the psychotic divide of seeing our soldiers, our children, DYING DAILY, supposedly to promote freedom and democracy for muslims of the middle east, all the while knowing that we have indiscriminately rounded up and ruthlessly tortured scores of muslim detainees who have had their identities, their rights, and their humanity erased and utterly destroyed.

Here is the text of my petition, a small attempt on my part to close one of the many loopholes allowing torture by our government:

( Proposed)
Weston Town Resolution
on Human Rights and Use of Torture

Whereas, we, the townspeople of Weston, CT, hold that the use of torture by any individual or government agency is totally unacceptable; and

Whereas, we hold that torture is the signature tactic of tyrants like Saddam Hussein and should not be emulated by civilized people in the cause of advancing freedom, human dignity, and liberty; and

Whereas, we agree with President Bush’s several statements that “Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere...” “The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture...” “Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right...” “America stands against and will not tolerate torture.”; and

Whereas, we believe that our message to the world must be clear and unambiguous, and in concert with the President’s unequivocal statements against torture.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the townspeople of Weston, CT, urgently request that the following legislative measure which was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, and then rescinded at the urging of the National Security Advisor, be reinstated and applied to all agencies, including the intelligence community:

"In general, no prisoner shall be subject to torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment that is prohibited by the Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States."

Be it further resolved that this town resolution shall be forwarded by our town officials in a timely manner to our Connecticut representatives in Washington, D.C. (including, but not limited to, Congressman Christopher Shays, Senator Christopher Dodd, and Senator Joseph Lieberman)


	Town Petition against Torture
	February 5, 2005 I have initiated a petition in my town of Weston, collecting signatures for a resolution by our community against torture by our government. With enough signatures, I hope to bring about a Special Town Meeting whereby we would discuss, amend and vote on the resolution to be sent to our representatives in Washington. Amazingly, more than a few people have responded with genuine astonishment and asked, "Torture? Who are we torturing?". To answer that question, I now hand out a two-page flyer that contains excerpts from mainstream news articles and official FBI documents that outline in gruesome detail the degree and scope of these atrocities being committed by our government. As for why I am making this a town issue, where we normally get together to deal with local issues of taxes, school bonds, and road access, my answer is this: As Americans, we can disagree on a lot of big issues. We can disagree about Social Security and whether privatization is a good or bad thing, or whether it will strengthen or destroy the program; we can disagree about the huge deficit, and whether it is sound fiscal policy to run one as high as ours or not; we can disagree on gay marriage and debate whether or not it will impact the moral fiber of our nation. We can disagree across the board on these issues and walk away from the fiery debate still connected to each other by the common thread of our basic American sense of liberty and freedom. We cannot disagree about torture. We simply cannot survive the psychotic divide of seeing our soldiers, our children, DYING DAILY, supposedly to promote freedom and democracy for muslims of the middle east, all the while knowing that we have indiscriminately rounded up and ruthlessly tortured scores of muslim detainees who have had their identities, their rights, and their humanity erased and utterly destroyed. Here is the text of my petition, a small attempt on my part to close one of the many loopholes allowing torture by our government: ( Proposed) Weston Town Resolution on Human Rights and Use of Torture Whereas, we, the townspeople of Weston, CT, hold that the use of torture by any individual or government agency is totally unacceptable; and Whereas, we hold that torture is the signature tactic of tyrants like Saddam Hussein and should not be emulated by civilized people in the cause of advancing freedom, human dignity, and liberty; and Whereas, we agree with President Bush’s several statements that “Torture anywhere is an affront to human dignity everywhere...” “The United States is committed to the worldwide elimination of torture...” “Freedom from torture is an inalienable human right...” “America stands against and will not tolerate torture.”; and Whereas, we believe that our message to the world must be clear and unambiguous, and in concert with the President’s unequivocal statements against torture. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the townspeople of Weston, CT, urgently request that the following legislative measure which was passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate, and then rescinded at the urging of the National Security Advisor, be reinstated and applied to all agencies, including the intelligence community: "In general, no prisoner shall be subject to torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment that is prohibited by the Constitution, laws or treaties of the United States." Be it further resolved that this town resolution shall be forwarded by our town officials in a timely manner to our Connecticut representatives in Washington, D.C. (including, but not limited to, Congressman Christopher Shays, Senator Christopher Dodd, and Senator Joseph Lieberman)
	(return)

( Proposed) Weston Town Resolution on Human Rights and Use of Torture

( Proposed)
Weston Town Resolution
on Human Rights and Use of Torture