How has America come to be such a viciously savage country, a disgrace among the community of nations? American history proves that we've always been among the most cruel and severe of peoples. I blame it largely on the crazy Christians such as the Calvinist "Puritans" who helped to found the country with slaughter, treachery, ignorance and exploitation. Still, today, mythology makes heroes of these villains and their progeny. If you want to know about a people both morally and economically, look at their prisons. America imprisons more of its citizens than any other civilized nation. The conditions are largely barbaric, backwards and "fracks," as the kids say. America has exported its doctrine of abuse to every country we bully. Certainly war brings out the worst in a people. Bush's forcible colonization of Iraq is the obvious example. In two years the American military established countless prisons. It murdered 27 prisoners in cold blood, mostly innocent Iraqis who resented having their families and homes destroyed. So far the Bush/Halliburton slaughterhouse has cost over 1200 American lives and about 100,000 Iraqi lives, mostly innocent civilians, more than half children. In addition over 12,000 Americans have been injured, many very seriously maimed, crippled and blinded. The majority of the wounded are minorities and women. They were sacrificed for the sake of big oil profits. And Bush's insane imperial colonization of the Moslem East. The barbarism isn't limited to America's foreign prisons. Pennsylvania prisoners are routinely beaten, starved and tortured. It's become an acceptable practice. Just yesterday a black prisoner at the Frackville state prison was beaten and had both arms dislocated. He was handcuffed, of course and couldn't defend himself. At the same time that we've become savages, we've become cowards. The guards at the Frackville prison are notorious for their cowardice. But, where the cowboy president condones slaughter and cowardice, what can we expect of mere prison guards? Religion is a dangerous and violent drug which divides people and breeds violent hostility. With a few exceptions, the rule is that the more "devout" a person is, the more intolerant and violent she/he is. The evil, of course is the intolerance and the contempt for human dignity. Efforts should be focused on humanizing the prisons. Regrettably, the Pennsylvania Prison Society which used to bring a modicum of civility to some of the Pennsylvania prisons, has become a collaborator; part of the problem, an apologist for prison evils. Count on them to kiss ass. Perhaps a little courtesy would help. Certainly, we must value each human life more highly. Fewer guns and fewer cops couldn't hurt. Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority" T.H. Huxley, 1870 You are welcome to use or republish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the Public Enemies Menu Return to the Main Menu Go to our site's Search Engine Send us Your Comments or Input.