I attended an ACLU forum on U.S. human rights abuses. I'm depressed.

[marmar]

I atttended an ACLU forum tonight in suburban Detroit on U.S. human rights abuses here and around the world. Speakers included local and national ACLU officials, including an Arab American attorney from the Detroit area.
The lawyer discussed the impact of constant monitoring and fear of monitoring on the Arab American community, including the fact that donations to charities are down 70 percent because people fear they'll be called in on subpoenas if they contribute. As a result, children in Palestine and the rest of the Mideast that depend on these charities for food and clothing aren't getting these things. He also talked about how his clients won't talk to him by cellphone or email because they're so paranoid about being spied on and harassed, and Arab Americans have stopped taking part in political activities such as war protests.
Later a Scottish ACLU lawyer, who I believe is based in NYC, talked about people being yanked off the street by the CIA in Germany, and flown from country to country and abused for three years before being let go because they did nothing wrong.
At the end of the discussion, there was the usual rallying of the troops, the urging of everyone to get involved, speak up and fight this, and normally that gets me all pumped up, but not this time.
I walked away from the event depressed and overwhelmed, disgusted by what this administration has done in our name and for the first time, really not proud to be an American. I just walked away feeling like our national karma is f..ked. :cry:

[Redstone]

1. If you were not depressed, you wouldn't be human. You'd be, I guess,

a Republican.

Redstone

[marmar]

2. Thanks for that, Redstone...

I cracked the first half-smile I've had since about 7:30 p.m. :)

[Redstone]

5. Always happy to be of service.

Redstone

[spindrifter]

3. Your sig line says it all, Marmar.

We have a lot to be ashamed of now, as a result of the megalomaniacs who are currently in charge. It is indeed a horrible thing when people feel that they cannot be charitable to their brothers and sisters in need because of possible government action against them. It is totally scary that a person can be snatched off the streets and "disappeared" with no word to family and no idea when they might find out what has happened.

[ThomCat]

4. I love the ACLU.

They do a fantastic job fighting huge necessary battles. I don't want to imagine where our country would be without them.

Everyone who can afford it should donate at least a little bit to the ACLU. I'm a card carrying member. Are you?