A New York Times article earlier this week discussed the newly forming coalition of A-list musicians including Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and Trent Reznor, who have publically joined the campaign to close Guantanamo Bay prison in protest against the use of loud music as torture. According to the National Security Archive and interviews with former detainees, blaring music tracks by such artists as Britney Spears, AC/DC, Marilyn Manson and even the Sesame Street Jingle were played on repeat for lengthy periods of time. Artists are outraged at the possibility that their music could have been used as a torture device without their consent. The torture experiences of Guantanamo prisoners are increasingly being unveiled to the public as more detainees are released from custody, serving as an urgent reminder that the inhumane prison facility should be shut down with haste. How can the United States government possibly defend the detainment of prisoners denied due process and subjected to inhumane torture methods as constitutional? While some patriotic Americans lust for revenge against the September 11th attacks and justify the use of extreme imprisonment tactics as a necessary method to defend ourselves against further threats, we cannot continue to act with wanton disregard of our constitution in name of national security. It is impossible to know whether every single prisoner of Guantanamo Bay is a dangerous terrorist who, if liberated, would carry out malicious plans to attack U.S. soil. Many prisoners were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, messenger youth who happened to be caught carrying a gun and were implicated in their leaders’ plots of terrorism. The shockingly barbaric treatment of potentially innocent Guantanamo Bay prisoners, denied the right to an impartial trial or knowledge of their accusations and held indefinitely, only serves to further propagate Anti-American sentiments in the Middle East. Any of the philosophers studied in our class thus far, as well as the unalienable rights prioritized by our own American constitution would not accept the treatment of prisoners under any umbrella of justice.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/musicians-want-to-know-if-they-were-on-guantanamo-playlist/?scp=4&sq=guantanamo&st=cse
1 comment:
It is truly shocking how the United States, a country that makes itself out to be a beacon of righteousness in the global community, can justify such egregious actions. The mere concept of Guantanamo, a prison not in the United States that doesn't need to abide by US laws, contradicts our constitution and basic principles. While terror suspects should undoubtedly be detained, the US must grant these individuals the same rights as any other prisoner within our borders. While some people pay lots of money to hear Britney Spears or ACDC, using their music as means of torture disrespects prisoner and artist alike.
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