In the blurb from the PBS web site, it says"this year marks the bicentennial year of the U.S. abolition of the slave
trade." I have only seen the excerpt on the front page. From this small bit, I appreciate the honesty of the filmmaker. I will let the filmmaker explain.
Last evening, I let myself out. I came out from behind the computer and its' keyboard to get some much needed down time. I stepped out of one bad scene to witness another one. I went to see "Standard Operating Procedure" by Errol Morris. If Democrats, Independents and some--maybe all?-- Republicans need a reason, just one overarching reason, to focus on this election, I think seeing this film will put everything in perspective.
I was there not to judge the people in the documentary. In fact, I found most of the "actors' in this American tragedy more complex and therefore more human. I could and do sympathize with them. As usual, the U.S. media failed to go deeper into and higher up the chain of command in this crime. WHO the hell approved this wretchedness? Most of these military officers were carrying out the orders and found themselves caught up in this situation. I can't imagine the hellish nightmares they are having and will have for the rest of their lives.
This particular American crime happened in our lifetimes; on our watch. This has happened throughout the annals of time and still happens around the world but in this instance,
it is uniquely American. It is documented for posterity. When we do this we lose the so-called high
moral ground which every president says we stand upon. The United
States government signed treaties against torture in accordance with
Geneva Conventions after World War II. How can we ask other countries
to abide by the Geneva Conventions when we tear them asunder?
I will not go any further because you have to experience the documentary for yourself to believe you are sitting there watching this actually happened in my name and in your name.
