American Exceptionalism

Glenn Greenwald is considered by some to be, shall we say, a bit “shrill”
in his condemnation of some of the practices of the US justice system. I would say that passion in the pursuit of restoring the constitution is not a vice, but that's just me.

In discussing the plea that Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, is making to Ecuador for asylum, he says that Assange is not trying to avoid justice, he is trying to avoid the United States, and he makes some rather telling points. He speaks of having talked with numerous individuals who were once associated with WikiLeaks or who still are, and says that “many have said that they stopped even though they believe as much as ever in WikiLeaks’ transparency cause,” and continues that their reason was “fear: not fear that they would be charged with a crime by their own government, but out of fear that they would be turned over to the United States.”

He has pointed out the inhumane solitary confinement of Bradley Manning for over a year without any actual charges being brought, let alone conviction, which makes a person’s fear of being turned over to the United States seem like a pretty reasonable fear. It also does not really fill me with pride at being a citizen of the nation in question.

Can’t say it makes me want to rush to the polls and vote for Obama, either.