It seems that our Southern neighbors have gone rather mad at this point. I am of course talking about the beloved United States of America. What may have provoked such accusatory words from yours truly? Well, there are two things:
1) Habeas corpus is totally optional.
2) Great wall of America.
Of course, what I mean is that those are the most recent two events that have captured my disdain. I'm sure that they've committed many other absurdities but the pain tends to dull over time.
For those who don't know, a recent bill has taken away habeas corpus for "enemy combatants". Habeas corpus is the right to be free from wrongful imprisonment--the right to a fair trial for the accused. It has existed since the Magna Carta and has become the most fundamental basis of all common-law systems...well, all except for the States because they're so wacky! I imagine the reasoning behind it would've been something like this: If a person is innocent, they wouldn't need to worry because they wouldn't be sent to jail in the first place and then all the terrorists will be delivered justice without those pesky laws getting in the way.
It's like something that came out of the Colbert Report. It's so ridiculously terrible I don't even have to make fun of it. Nevermind that an innocent person would be unable to prove their innocence without a trial, nevermind that almost anyone can be classified as an enemy combatant and nevermind that this totally undermines the concept of equality under the law. Just nevermind, after all, it's fighting the terrorists that's important isn't it?
Onto the second topic, a wall to be built on the border to Mexico has been authorized. Actually, this isn't so bad. I was only going to rant about the first item originally but the idea is so crazy I thought it deserved a mention. Apparently having a bunch of rednecks sit in lawnchairs waiting for illegal immigrants with shotguns isn't good enough. Funding hasn't actually been granted (so it's probably just some political jostling) but the notion amused me enough to give it a holler here.
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