Shock and awe have turned to shock and shame.
Americans have long seen our country as the world’s moral leader. Our politicians have lectured the rest of the world on the value of human rights. But over the last seven years, we have subverted our moral leadership by violating the founding principles of our country. We have shamed America in the eyes of a world we keep trying to impress and influence.
In the process, we have made the world more dangerous for ourselves and others.
Our sordid record includes the luckless (and innocent) Afghani taxi driver who died after Americans beat him so badly his legs were “pulpified.” Men have been imprisoned for years without charges or trials in contravention of our Constitution. Suspected terrorists have been kidnapped and transported to foreign countries where our henchman can torture them without scrutiny.
Our “free and independent press” has papered over contemptible behavior by using such administration euphemisms as “enhanced interrogation” when everyone knows they’re talking about torture. The head of our own Central Intelligence Agency admitted using torture, even though he didn’t call it that.
Then there is the shame at home. The cynically named Patriot Act undermines the very freedoms the real American patriots fought and died for. Our own government secretly and illegally spies on Americans. Congress continues to vote for laws that erode our civil liberties. President Bush trumpets an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement in this, his final year in office, when he has ignored the long-festering problem for most of his time in office.
Given all this, it was heartening to see so many young Coloradans attend precinct caucuses earlier this month. They came to vote for their favorite candidate and a change in the direction of our country. I’ve attended caucuses for several decades and have rarely seen anyone under 50 attending. This year, large numbers of the attendees were under 40. They had a sense of purpose: to make America proud again. They were there, several told me, to participate in a process they believed would move the U.S. toward policies that were friendlier towards the Earth and our neighbors around the globe.
They want their country to be the world’s moral leader once again.
These young people didn’t stop at attending their caucuses. Many were excited to be delegates to their county assemblies. Hopefully, some of them will be delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. We could use a dose of their optimism and idealism at our nominating conventions.
The young Coloradans I talk to buy the rule of law, not the rule of fear. Many of them have traveled widely at home and abroad and value the diversity that makes America unique in the world. They aren’t motivated by such divisive wedge issues as abortion and gay marriage.
Instead, they are deeply concerned about the war in Iraq, their own access to jobs and the American dream for their families, America’s standing in the world, and the ecological plight of the Earth. They are self-confident and want to play a role in turning America around.
Across the country, the turnout for the primaries and caucuses has been overwhelming. This, in itself, is exciting. Even better is the enthusiasm of young Americans, many of whom have been turned off by politics in the past, for the contests this year. Their desire to participate in politics and policy is the best news of all in this momentous election, an election we can only hope will make America proud again.
Gail Schoettler (gailschoettler@email.msn.com) is a former U.S. ambassador and Colorado lieutenant governor. Her column appears twice a month.
