Tell Congress to Oppose the Bush Torture Bill

Oppose the Bush Torture Bill Dear Friend: We rarely send you more than one email in a week, but today your faithful voice is especially needed.  In just hours Congress will vote on whether to uphold the highest ethical standards requiring the U.S. to abide by our commitments to international law through the Geneva Conventions or to change that standard and undermine our commitments, our values, our credibility abroad, and our honor at home. Put bluntly, President Bush wants to change the law on human torture.  U.S. policy has long been committed to following Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions requiring prisoners to be treated humanely and to be punished only by a “regularly constituted court affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples.”  The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that this mandate applies to all detainees.  But President Bush has introduced a bill (H.R. 6054; S. 3861, the “Military Commissions Act of 2006”) that would change how detainees will be tried and whether torture and degrading and humiliating treatment by U.S. personnel will be allowed.  If this measure passes - if it even comes close - our reputation and credibility abroad will be irreparably harmed.  Our soldiers will be placed in even greater peril.  At home, our identity will be compromised and our nation weakened from within. We stridently oppose this measure and ask that you join us in raising the roof in Washington with emails to both the House and Senate calling for a decisive defeat of this shameful measure.  After taking action, please forward this email to as many friends and colleagues as you can.   Also, please consider signing the statement by the National Religious Coalition Against Torture. Thank you for this extra-mile effort.  Together let us make sure every member of Congress knows that torture is immoral, repugnant, and it will not be part of our American identity.With grateful hearts for your courage, your faith, and your actions,Vince Isner and the FaithfulAmerica.org team Send a letter to the following decision maker(s): Your Congressperson Your Senators Below is the sample letter:Subject: Vote NO on the Bush Torture BillDear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],As a person of faith and conscience I am appalled that our President would introduce a bill to allow torture under any circumstances. Such an act is beneath everything our nation stands for, and it must be soundly defeated.Even a close vote would send a message to the world that our nation's elected officials are weak on human rights. We must stand solidly against this measure and allow the time honored Geneva Conventions to guide our policy. The National Religious Coalition Against Torture has issued a statement with which I agree. It states:"Torture violates the basic dignity of the human person that all religions, in their highest ideals, hold dear. It degrades everyone involved - policy-makers, perpetrators and victims.It contradicts our nation's most cherished values. Any policies that permit torture andinhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.Nothing less is at stake in the torture abuse crisis than the soul of our nation. What does it signify if torture is condemned in word but allowed in deed?"I ask that you vote against this measure. Further, I ask that you and your colleagues stand resolute in opposing all acts of this president to weaken our moral standards in the name of national security. Sincerely,Youcc:President George W. Bush