President Obama and His Words

  Two years ago, President Obama had delivered an electrifying and inspiring  speech which had uplifted the nation from the abysmal depths of fear and  injustice. He ordered all trials at Guantanamo Bay halted, and promised to close  the notorious detention center, which has become a permanent stain on America's  moral standing in the world. Now, he is walking away from his words. As a mother  who lost her son at WTC, I am not only disappointed, but am disillusioned.  President Obama had said:   " Our Fore Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a  charter to assure the Rule of Law and the rights of man... A charter expanded by  the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world and we will not  give them up for expedience sake."  President Obama, are we living up to the expectations of our Fore Fathers? The  Constitution prohibits the government from detaining people, including American  citizens, indefinitely, without due process.  Mr. President. You also said to the world:   " America is ready to lead once more."  Is this how you intend to lead the world? Does indefinite detention without  charges constitute power? Will the world look up to 0America when we stand in  violation of all international and domestic Human Rights Treaties and of our own  Constitution?  In your own words:   " In reaffirming the greatness of our own nation, we understand that greatness  is never a given. It must be earned."  Thus, Mr. President, must we earn greatness by setting an example for the free  world? I will close with your own words, Mr. President.  " What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility. A recognition on  the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the  world. Duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in  the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of  our character than giving our all to a difficult task."