Disrespect

The President entered the room setting off a storm of clicks, the shutters slamming shut repeatedly on the press cameras. Tension and excitement was evident in every person in the room. The photographers pressed forward against each other. Two reporters had nearly gotten into a fistfight trying to vie for seating positions. The expectation was that he would make an announcement that everyone had assumed was true already, one that if confirmed was expected create quite a stir.

At the podium, he cast his sly smirk to the television viewers in anticipation of the reaction. “In light of the recent attempts from the Islamic terrorist community to again blow up airplanes with U.S. citizens on board, we have instituted a program that we have been developing for months. We now will require every Muslim in the United States and every Muslim who wishes to enter the United States of America, to register with the Department of Homeland Security. They will be required to provide a history of education and travel for the past 10 years. Also, they will be required to offer any information they have on other Islamic Terrorists. If it is determined that they have a link to known terrorists, then they will either be denied access to the country or transported to a detention center for questioning. We will be providing a printed release with the details of the program at a later time. No questions at this time. Thank you.”

The journalists erupted immediately with questions, but the Head of State refused any more insights into his mind. He knew what would happen; at least what his advisors told him would happen. There would be a small uproar over the weekend in the Muslim communities, but his supporters would think it about time. The party base would be energized and feel safer that the terrorists wouldn’t be able to get on a plane anymore. The airline industry would see a boon in business, because people would feel as though it were safer to fly.

He was right. The Muslim communities held rallies in their neighborhoods that weekend, and the opposition went on the weekend talk shows. By Monday, most people had heard about the plan, and the poles on Tuesday revealed that his approval ratings had gone up 10% from the announcement. “Heckofa plan,” he told his advisors.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, bombs exploded in twelve professional football stadiums killing 5,000 people and wounding 10,000 more.

Here’s the editorial part: I am nauseated daily hearing about how our government has taken away the rights of U.S. and world citizens for years. The President announced that the secret prisons exist. He has yet to acknowledge torture has taken place, nor that individual’s rights have been violated. The way that they talk about them is appalling. They ask questions designed to rebut their opponents such as, “Do you really want to give these people more rights?” “These people” are “suspected terrorists” who have not been given due process to address the charges against them. No one is trying to give them more rights either. Some of us, are just asking that they not have their rights taken away until they have been proven guilty, and even then not to treat them in an undignified manner. It amazes me that somehow the leading politicians believe that we are helping our image by telling the world that Muslims are bad, and that we can take away their rights when we feel like it. The truly embarrassing part is that so many of the citizens believe it; and, those that don’t believe it can’t seem to muster the pressure to make changes. Hopefully the upcoming election will speak the essence of this country. Hopefully the ones elected will make clear policy changes and correct the damage that has been inflicted. Although death by human hands may be an anxiety provoking possibility, being accused of something you didn’t do and having everyone believe it is probably worse.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to say what I felt, even on this blog of fiction.