A Moral Issue

http://www.witnesstorture.org/

January 11, 2009 will be a national day of fast to end torture and bring about the closure of Guantanamo. Framed as a matter of war strategy or a national security tool, torture is not in fact a political issue; it is a moral issue. A civilized society cannot stand idly by as its government engages in the practice of systematic torture. Torture is a violation of human rights and affront to the dignity of the human person. A civil society that practices torture, no matter what its justification, is at risk of losing its collective soul. As U.S.-eans, we must speak the truth and make clear that the systematic practice of torture by our government or its agents against human persons is not acceptable and must be stopped. The U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed this belief and recognizes what many of us already knew: torture is wrong and the U.S. government should be engaged in the practice of torture. Whether one is a political activitist, a human rights advocate, or a promoter of human life from conception to the grave, the issue of torture and the need to stop it is a moment in which we can all come together and stand side by side for life and human dignity. Now is the time for the federal government to follow through on the ruling of the Court and close Guantanamo Bay. Now we must let our federal lawmakers know what we believe about torture and why we recognize the need for Guantanamo to be closed permanently. For more information on the national campaign to end torture and close "Gitmo" click here .

Mark your calendar for January 11, a national day of fast to end torture, and consider how you will observe the 100 days against torture in 2009. Think about how you will observe January 11, 2009 and what you will do to call attention effectively and meaningfully to this issue during the 100 days that follow. Torture is not a political issue: torture is a moral issue that a civil society in the 21st century can no longer ignore.

Torture is not a political issue; torture is a moral issue.