We have all read the horrifying stories about the CIA's torture campaign. The systematic brutality, the mechanical cruelty, the monstrous depravity.
And a lot of Americans are finally understanding how they got from 911 to Ferguson.
When hijacked airliners slammed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and an empty Pennsylvania field in 2001 everyone knew that the United States was changed forever. We had no idea, though, that what we are told are our essential values would be surrendered. Now thirteen years on we are left with a legacy of wars, deceit, torture and a massive erosion of our basic liberties.
But I wonder how many Canadians understand how far down the road to torture and depravity Stephen Harper has taken this country.
It is without a doubt one of the worst things I have ever seen. The slow death of Ashley Smith.
While her guards watched.
Read that and weep.
Or watch the video here.
If you can bear it.
It was such a beautiful day. After the greyness caused by the tail end of Hurricane Sandy, the sun shone brightly in a clear blue sky.
And it felt so great, especially after Obama's amazing victory, which made me feel happier than I've felt for a long time.
Until I remembered that I'm still living in Harperland.
Until I heard this new Con attack ad...
I think this image will haunt me forever.
The image of a bound, hooded, 18-year-old Ashley Smith being duct taped into a seat on a plane.
Like she was some kind of dangerous terrorist on her way to Guantanamo.
When she was just a poor mentally ill teenager on her way to one of the nine Canadian prisons she was held in during her short life. Before she choked herself to death while her guards watched, and did nothing.
