I am an educator who has been blessed with the opportunity to live and work abroad for a large part of my life, and to see what an impact the American dream has had in places as far apart historically and culturally as Ethiopia and Canada. America's promise shines as a bright light regardless where in the world one may be. Dark clouds of fear and loathing have briefly dimmed that light, but the election of President Barak Obama has reminded the world that Americans have good hearts and always, ultimately, remember what is right. His presidency has begun to push away the clouds, and we recall the dream of the Founders who established the egalitarian system under which The Law is our only king.
Thank you for taking the first step toward restoring the Rule of Law by appointing an independent prosecutor to investigate the use of torture by those who forgot the words of Thomas Paine who said, "An army of principles can penetrate where an army of soldiers cannot" and who turned their backs on our great ideals, betraying our national word of honor given in good faith at the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment signed on behalf of the United States by Deputy Secretary of State John C. Whitehead on April 18, 1988, at the United Nations. Your Honor -- we will never achieve true accountability by limiting the scope of the investigation and overlooking those who commissioned and authorized these illegal acts -- some at the highest level of our government.Only by thoroughly investigating the crimes that were committed in America's name and holding accountable those who authorized torture can we move forward and ensure that these atrocities are not repeated.I support a full and thorough investigation of torture that follows the evidence -- wherever it may lead.
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