Psyche, Science, and Society

Humanity and the founding of our country: Abu Ghraib and Drake’s Farm

March 3rd, 2007

A letter on the Danbury CT NewsTimesLive site contains more humanity than our current leadership, or than the leadership of the APA:

On Abu Ghraib and Drake’s Farm

Feb 26 2007

An obscure battle in the Revolutionary War has profound significance in terms of contemporary American policy.

It was not one of those glorious triumphant battles that do well in Hollywood scripts. Rather, it was a small skirmish in New Jersey that offers acute insight into the great mind and character of one of our founders.

George Washington’s men fought with British and Hessian soldiers at a place called Drake’s Farm, and they did not do well.

Seven of them were overwhelmed and their only option was to surrender. The British and Hessian soldiers did not take them as prisoners; instead, they crushed their skulls with muskets. The British general later turned a deaf ear to Washington’s protestations.

When Colonial soldiers discovered what had happened, they were enraged and wanted to exact comparable revenge on the enemy. In a decree that would help form the foundations of a fledgling democracy, Washington told his men that they would not respond in kind.

Instead, they would house their prisoners, feed them, clothe them and treat them with the decency all humans deserve.

What a valuable cornerstone Washington’s words laid for a country that would, two centuries later, become the most powerful and respected nation in the world.

We went on to defeat the British forces and their Hessian mercenaries, even though our policy prohibited abuse of captives.

The next time you hear the very familiar bellicose words emanating from the Oval Office, remember Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, suspension of habeas corpus and extraordinary rendition, as well as warrantless wire tapping.

More importantly, pause and reflect on the battle at Drake’s Farm. If enough of us contemplate the valuable principles upon which the United States was founded, perhaps we can begin to correct some of the egregious blunders of the last six years.

John Zamary
SANDY HOOK

Entry Filed under: Rights and Liberties, Torture, War Crimes, War and Peace