Sunday, July 27, 2008

What people are afraid of, and dying with dignity

Light reading.

This is the sort of thing everyone is afraid of. I'm sure Maher Arar isn't surprised. A year of torture in Syria followed by exoneration and apology, but he remains on the terrorist watch-list for reasons that he isn't privy to. Canada's right-right minister of public safety found them unconvincing. Now we get a sense that Homeland Security considers itself to be engaged in a series of pissing-matches more so than anything else.

When people whine about the erosion of civil liberties, net neutrality, etc., it's easy to dismiss their fears as paranoia. But if you ask me, whatever can be abused will be abused. Let's conduct ourselves accordingly.

* * *

Randy Pausch has died. If you haven't heard of him yet, here's why you might care. Yes, it's over an hour long, but it's better than anything on TV. My main thought was, "When the time comes I hope I'll be able to face death the way this guy did." Perhaps that was the unmentioned headfake; this is how to live, and also how to die.

3 comments:

Jun Okumura said...

One thing about an Obama victory—Eurasia Group gives him a 3-to2 edge over John McCain—which surprises me that people talk don’t talk more about is the legal fallout from the likely review of many controversial operations under the Bush administration. I won’t be surprised if President Bush issues a blanket amnesty before he leaves office. Nothing like the South African Truth and Reconciliation, or South Korea’s custom of going after the last President and his family and friends; but something is bound to hapopen.

Speaking of South Africa, if Nelson Mandela is good enough for America, then Maher Arar…

Michael Reimer said...

Good point Jun, it hadn't occurred to me. Can he issue such a thing? If so, that should also fall under the "whatever can be abused will be abused."

Sorry, I'm not sure in what sense Mandela is good enough for America. I do think that Arar should go into politics. He could do brilliantly on name recognition alone, and with his anti-American appeal he'd cut a swath through the left. Add Muslim voters and settlement money for campaign funding, and you've got a contender.

Jun Okumura said...

...meaning...

...if the U.S. can take Mandela off the terrorists list...

...which actually means...

... if the U.S. can take so long to take Mandela off the terrorists list...

That's a good question. I have no idea how specific a pardon must be under U.S. law. I'm sure White House lawyers are studying the possibility. If I were the Democrats post-election, though, I would grant immunity to anyone who testifies at any Congressional review commission or the like.