33 | "American shame" [pantoum]

This is a day and time of American shame
the monster we decry we must not mimic
when fast and loose you play in such a game
the gun of fear is no mere nasty gimmick

the monster we decry we must not mimic
this is a basic principle for the civilized
the gun of fear is no mere nasty gimmick
who'd dream the Magna Carta would be trivialized?

this is a basic principle for the civilized
brutality contradicts our human aim
who'd dream the Magna Carta would be trivialized?
this is a day and time of American shame



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Responsive to the headline "Senate Passes Detainee Bill Sought by President Bush" (in the New York Times online)

By KATE ZERNIKE 31 minutes ago
The bill, approved 65 to 34, establishes far-reaching new rules on the treatment of terrorism suspects and is expected to go to the president by week’s end.

Senator Barack Obama (Democrat of Illinois) expressed the central issue succinctly, when he said, "I think most Americans would agree that if somebody is held they should at least be able to respond to the charges. The fact we don’t have that is something that, over time, Americans are going to be embarrassed about."

Cross-posted to DesiCritics.

This is no. 33 in a sequence, Early Autumn Pantoums