*Political Prisoners In America*
Column by Paul Bonneau.
One bit of indoctrination I have found it difficult to shake, is the
notion that only other countries have political prisoners. Perhaps you
have the same mental knee-jerk reaction that I do, when I hear that
phrase: people rotting in prisons in Cuba, or some other banana republic
run by a military honcho, or Burma, or North Korea. But are such
examples really representative of the concept, "political prisoner"?
When you look up the definition, you generally see something like "?A
person who has been imprisoned for holding or advocating dissenting
political views," or "?someone imprisoned for holding, expressing, or
acting in accord with particular political beliefs." These definitions
are not the most helpful in the world, as they are so elastic. It could
cover almost everyone in prison, or almost no one, depending on one's
preference.
I'd like to propose another definition that nails things down a bit
better: A political prisoner is a person in prison for committing /mala
prohibita/.
This definition immediately rules out murderers, thieves, rapists, and
so forth. Most people (except maybe those same murderers, thieves and
rapists) would consider this reasonable.
Now, getting pulled over for speeding is an example of /mala prohibita/.
But usually, you are not thrown in jail for it, so you are not a
political prisoner. It's only if the punishment rises to the level of
imprisonment that this term kicks in.
Does this fit in with existing definitions? I think so. Presumably,
people who commit /mala prohibita/ do dissent from the prevailing or
state-enforced political view that they can do X. After all, it took
legislation--political activity--to outlaw X, unlike the case with
murder and theft (which are naturally outlawed). It may be their
political belief that they can do whatever they want with their own
bodies, or own whatever they can pay for, or hire whomever they want, at
whatever wage they care to negotiate. These innocent activities are not
inherently political; but they certainly become so when they are outlawed.
The stereotypical political prisoner is /not/ the conservative activist,
rotting in a Cuban jail. It is a pot smoker, or the guy with a worn sear
in his AK-47, rotting in an American jail. With 2.3 million people in
jail, largely for /mala prohibita/, America has more political prisoners
than any other place. Unfortunately, with our government, "political
prisoner" has become as American as apple pie.
It's becoming close to the time when Americans must have their "storm
the Bastille" moment, and free all our political prisoners. We can start
with Julian Assange and Bradley Manning!
http://www.strike-the-root.com/political-prisoners-in-america
--
*I reserve the right to do as I please.*
*"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is exercised under cover
of law, and with the colors of justice ..."
- U.S. v. Jannotti, 673 F.2d 578, 614 (3d Cir. 1982)
"If Americans wish to be free of judicial tyranny, they must at least
develop basic knowledge of the judicial role in our republican
government. The present state of affairs is a direct result of our
collective ignorance."
- Ron Paul*
*Our courts will never be fair and just again until we force the courts
to follow their own rules. Do not allow yourself to be ruled by tyrants.
Learn how to control corrupt judges and crooked lawyers
<http://www.jurisdictionary.com?refercode=CG0004> so you can get
Justice! Learn to litigate: Buy and Study JURISDICTIONARY
<http://www.jurisdictionary.com?refercode=CG0004>. The best course
available for Pro Se and Pro Per litigants.*
*I Refuse To Comply With The Unconstitutional Demands Of The Federal
Government*
*Read the US Constitution
<http://amgona.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7&Itemid=7#Amends>*
*Government is only as strong as those who allow themselves to be
governed are weak.*
*"We have plenty of rights in this country, provided you don't get
caught exercising them."
- Terry Mitchell
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free it expects something that
cannot be."
- Thomas Jefferson***
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