Exporting Democracy or Tyranny?
By Wes Edwards
December 21, 2002
And just when we thought the United States couldn't look any more fascist, the INS has decided to detain thousands of American
Muslims for the unforgivable crime of being Muslims. In California, hundreds of Arab men of all ages were crammed naked into
freezing rooms, subjected to humiliating strip searches, forced to sleep standing up and who knows what else. This is the kind of
thing that is supposed to happen in all those other 'uncivilized' countries. Many of these people fled said countries because of
this type of abuse. Congratulations America for stooping to a new low.
The predominantly Muslim men had voluntarily submitted to the INS for 'registration' under the new United States anti-terrorism
laws. One wonders why 'terrorists' would bother registering voluntarily but of course this was never about looking for terrorists.
This is pure racism and arbitrary terrorizing of innocent people. Timothy McVeigh was a white Roman Catholic. Perhaps all Catholics
should similarly be forced to 'register' themselves? Perhaps all caucasians should be strip searched and humiliated? No, I didn't
think so.
Emperor Bush can blather all he wants that the United States is not anti-Muslim or anti-Arab, but the United States' actions since
September 11th certainly seem to indicate otherwise. Why is it that when South Africa acted in this manner we called it Apartheid
and rightly thumbed our noses but when Israel or the United States does it we accept it as 'necessary security measures'? Call it
whatever makes you sleep better at night America. I know what I'll be calling it.
In a sane world, Pat Robertson would never have a television program much less an audience that bothers watching him. But when
someone with his power and appeal openly and repeatedly makes claims that Mohammed was a terrorist we should not feel surprised when
anti-Muslim racism like this reaches a fever-pitch.
And when Canadian citizens are deported by United States Immigration authorities to Syria to face possible execution and civilians
of all nations (Canadian and American included) are detained indefinitely on 'President' Bush or Attorney General Ashcroft's whim...
let's face it, these things simply should not be happening in a democracy.
Incredibly though, Herr Bush wants to export the United States' brand of 'democracy' to the rest of the world. If this is what
you're selling Bush, then thank you but no thank you... we're not buying. We had enough of this kind of thing back in 30s Germany.
The truth is that the United States is becoming more and more tyrannical and less and less democratic every day. Certainly, the myth
of America as the beacon of freedom still exists in many people's minds but the truth of the matter is that the United States is no
friend to democracy, and if truth be told, it hasn't been for a very long time.
It is absolutely tragic that the Americans are allowing themselves to casually repeat the horrific events of the past without a peep
from anyone. If the Americans started herding Arabs into showers or forcing them to wear striped pyjamas and armbands, I don't think
I'd be surprised at all. It's history repeating itself except that this time we Canadians are playing for the wrong team.
Canada needs to take a step back from its role as America's friendly neighbour (read: faithful client-state) and start to seriously
question what our neighbour's intentions really are. We need to distance ourselves completely from these insane policies and
actively start providing assistance to those Arabs who are victims of American racist policies. Perhaps a new Underground Railroad
might just be what the doctor ordered.
Regrettably though, our so-called government is saying little and doing less. Rather than criticize the Americans' policies, our
ridiculous politicians and absurdly biased media monopolies want us to accept 'integration' with the United States. As if
integration with the Americans would be a good thing for Canadians. I'm sure the Vichy regime was all gung ho about German
integration too.
If there was any justice in this world, we Canadians would have already sealed our borders in protest at what the Americans are
doing. What's next? Allowing American military forces to enter Canada to look for suspected Muslim 'terrorists'? Just wait and see.
At the rate things are proceeding, the US will probably be annexing us soon anyway. We better start hiding our Arab friends in our
cellars before the Americans come knocking on our doors.
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