"UN Panel Calls for Bush Administration to Close Guantanamo Bay Military Prison *The UN Committee Against Torture also urges an end to secret CIA prisons and an end to abusive treatment and interrogation techniques against detainees. In addition, the panel sharply criticized practices in regular prisons in the United States including widespread sexual abuse of inmates."

Our prisons are overcrowded. Buildings designed to house 100 prisoners are holding three times that. When you hear the word prisoner you may think..."Who cares? Rapists? Murderers? Child molesters? Gang bangers? Let them rot." I know. It's hard not to think that way. But there's the story of the seventeen year old boy who is a good student, a boy scout, and who has never been in any kind of trouble. One day a car side swiped him and he chased after it. He was angry and wanted to do the same back. He did and the other driver lost control of his car. His passenger was injured in the accident and lost her baby. The boy was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to seven years in prison. Big boy prison. How do you think he survived? A 19 year old college student bought some marajuana....a half pound of it for a big party his fraternity was having. He got to the dealers house just as the police were making a bust. He was sentenced to 10 years in the big boy prison. How about the 26 year old father and husband who got off work one night and went over to his old friends house, where he used to do drugs. He's been clean for three years but this night he joined the party and smoked some. He was still on probation for a drug offense.....he had two weeks left of his probation. Stupid? Yes. Criminal? I don't think so. But, he violated his probation so he is in the big boy prison, in a cage, designed to hold two men but now is holding four. He sleeps on the cement floor, with one eye open....four more years.

I remember when George Bush and Al Gore were debating. George was asked a question about the very high number of executions in Texas under his governship. He grinned. He smirked. He's proud of it. Funny how a pro-lifer can do such a flip. Pro-life doesn't end at birth. It's no wonder to me that the rest of the world is looking at us with more than a little skepticism. We think America, The United States is the BEST! Yet, we are one of the lowest rated developed nations for infant mortality, education, health care, and prison reform. Let's be honest. Who do we want to be? What do we want to stand for? Freedom? Can't do that now that we are all being recorded. Democracy? Well, the majority of Americans voted for something, someone else. Decency? Have you seen the attack ads for the next election? It's not close to decency. Honesty? Well, if you've been paying attention to what's going on in Washington, you know it's not that.

Be the change you want to see in our nation. Write your senators and representatives, write to your president. It's time for change.