Assignment 3-1 Pop Culture - Weekly Written Analysis

I turned on my computer this afternoon and a headline caught my eye. “Guantanamo Closure Called Obama Priority” in big, bold, black letters. My heart sank as I realized my worst fears just might be coming true. Guantanamo Bay has a prison that houses the war criminals that I feel deserve no US freedoms. It has many terrorists that were caught trying to carry out unspeakable acts and there are people who want to release them because they were tortured during war time to get information? Where were you people when the Twin Towers were falling? Do you remember all the people that died just because terrorists didn’t like the fact that America exists and that most believe in another religion? There is nothing I can do about it, I was born here and I’m an American and proud of it. Just as they were born in Afghanistan or Syria. You can’t change these facts. I cannot fathom why anyone would want to close down a prison only to set people free, who as you will see in a few years, are going to go out and think up another way to kill as many Americans as possible? I read the article and do agree with some of the Obama plan. I do agree that the prison needs to be closed, but not closed all together, just closed to new admittance. These people were caught during war time. There are laws that are to be followed in war but even I know that if I’m caught in a foreign country or doing something wrong or in a questionable place there is the possibility of many, many years of torture ahead. As far as I’m concerned they have no rights, we don’t have American rights when convicted in a foreign country, why should they? What about Jessica Lynch, where were her rights when she was captured and raped repeatedly while being held captive? What makes these prisoners so special that the president feels he needs to step in and release some of the most dangerous men and women of our time? Obama has overcome a huge obstacle by being elected the first black president. This feat, that I’m proud to say, is our country’s biggest step to equality since the days of Martin Luther King Jr. I am very glad that a black man was elected president, I’m just not so sure about this black man. His religion is still an issue with me because if I went to a church where the preacher called America “the US of KKK-a,” no matter who the preacher was or church he preached to, I would never return. (Addison, 2008). It is against my beliefs. Church is a place to learn about God and how he wants us to live. There is nothing in the Bible that even mentions racism. Why would it even come up in a sermon other than to speak ill of it. How can we as people expect future generations to change if we ourselves aren’t willing to do the same. As I read through many different comments, I found this one that sums up what I want to say. It is posted by a person named Adam, and he states “Justifying racism due to others being racist is total hypocrisy. Reverend Wright calls America "White America", and accuses America of racism. What of all of the white men who fought and died to free the blacks from slavery. How unselfish these men and their families were. They paid the ultimate price to help someone other than themselves. The blacks in this country weren't freed by their own might. They were freed by the blood of God fearing whites, who were practicing the most unselfish act of all. It isn't politically correct to make this statement. It is however historically correct. If Mr. Obama identifies this man as his spiritual advisor and mentor, he is no better than a white man who uses the grand wizard of the KKK as his. I can only pray for people who are so full of hate.” (Trackback, 2008). Sleeper cells exist throughout the US and we don’t even know they exist. They are made up of people who eat, sleep and play right along beside you and your kids will play with their kids and so on. One day when called upon, they have no problem blowing up their family, your family, you, them self and as many other people as they can take with them. This is a scary thought when we as Americans value life as the most valuable thing one could possibly posses. These people have no regard for it. How can we deliberately release these prisoners knowing what they are capable of doing and plan on trying again? Mr. President, I feel that there are more pressing issues on your agenda that need addressing not the closing of a prison that houses dangerous people. Try fixing the economy, mending the relationships with parties here at home, or feeding and housing the homeless that live on our own city streets in the greatest country in the world, unless you’re not really one of us?

Addison, Jim. (2008). Obama’s preacher – in his own words Retrieved January 22, 2009, from http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/03/13/obamas-preacher-in-his-own-words.php

Finn, Peter. (2008). Guantanamo closure called Obama priority. Retrieved January 22, 2009, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111102865.html?sid=ST2008111200035&s_pos=

Trackback. (2008). Posting by: Adam. March 15, 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2009, from http://wizbangblog.com/content/2008/03/13/obamas-preacher-in-his-own-words.php