James is swimming against the mainstream of our class
James writes:
The guantanomo bay situation involves alleged criminals and people who have been identified as a problem to the United States of America. We have all the right to keep them in prison untill we decide to give them a trial. It is all in aid of stopping terrorist activities in America. So far it has worked, in the past 5 years we have not had another attack and making progress in the fight against terrorism.
I think it’s interesting that no one else in class has had this perspective. Everyone is so sure that what the gov’t is doing is wrong. And I, too, believe it goes against the constitution. But I can’t seem to make up my mind if “all is fair in love and war“. It’s true what James says, that we haven’t had any more terrorist attacks. But I believe the question Mr. O asked was not if what we’re doing is protecting the American people, but actually if it is right. So once again I come to the same conclusion. It is against the constitution, and it is not right. Going after specific persons would be better than putting a lot of people in there just to be safe.
But I can’t disagree, we have been safer in the last five years. Though the question my mind is debating is if it was at the right cost. Would you like to be the one in Guantanamo, not knowing why you’re in there or when you’ll get out?
September 19th, 2006 at 2:31 am
How do you know that you’ve been safer these past five years. If you’re saying that the fact that you have not been attacked during these years equals a safer country, I really don’t understand how. Do you really believe that you are more safe because of Guantamo Bay and the prisoners there? You can be sure that there are people who don’t like America in all over the world and are willing to try and act. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid but you can never be safe, no matter where you are.
Those are just my oppinions but I liked what you wrote anyway.
September 19th, 2006 at 7:34 am
Everyone is a critic…
I can not understand how high school kids with narrow perspectives on the world assume the right to criticize the decisions of world leaders. The public’s view of what really goes on, its causes and its effects is heavily obscured by the lack of proper channels of information.
Whether or not the right decisions are being made is not a question of whether or not you perceive your country to be doing the right thing, it’s a question of whether or not your leaders are trustworthy.
You will never know everything that goes on and you will rarely even know enough to be able to form relevant arguments that people who are closer to the matters at hand won’t be able to refute. If you do trust your elected officials then take comfort in that your will is being carried out through them, no matter what distorted dramas the media may create.
If, however, you don’t trust your leaders..(and I hope your reasons are valid) the only opinion you should adopt and preach about is the one of distrust.
September 20th, 2006 at 11:12 am
[…] Sanna received some feedback from an unknown author (below) in response to a post she wrote on the situation in Guantanamo Bay. Check out the conversation and Sanna’s follow-up post to this blog - another example of good blogging discussion. […]
September 22nd, 2006 at 8:53 am
[…] So here we have an example of a high school civics class blog by a student that is using the tool pretty well, I’d say. Especially just a few days into it. Once again, comments on Civics dude! are open, which has led to a pretty interesting exchange between student and unknown commentor. To guide you through it, here’s the original post, the comment, and the student’s response. I love this part from the student: I think it’s so funny that someone I don’t even know who it is (Gayatri?) is posting comments on my schoolblog. I see how it can be very upsetting reading a highschool kid’s view on what America is doing. It is truly not my meaning to sound ever-knowing, or wise. Let’s face it, I’m seventeen and I don’t know 1% of what’s going on in the world. But I think that not understanding that I am a student trying to learn and expand my world, is pretty narrow-minded, as Gayatri said I was. […]
September 22nd, 2006 at 10:08 pm
When you say “we” have been safer, I take it you mean Americans as there have been no more attacks on US soil. There have been attacks elsewhere though . . . Personally, I don’t feel any safer just because there are prisoners in Guantanamo.
I think it’s great that your teacher is having you blog and share your opinions with a wider audience than just your classmates. I look forward to reading more of what you write Sanna.