The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that we should take on the concept of preemption, which most people probably don't understand what it means, and explicate it fully.
Preemption is what justified the internment of the Japanese on the west coast during World War II and for which we are now obligated to pay compensation.
Preemption is what justified the internment of people of Jewish descent in Germany and, when it became too difficult to sustain them, their extermination.
Preemption is what is justifying the interrogation and investigation of Quakers (a traditionally pacifist group) in Colorado.
Preemption is what is justifying the investigation of other pacifist organizations, even as middle-eastern illegals are entering the country by the hundreds in Arizona.
While it might make sense to believe that preemption is akin to locking the barn BEFORE the horse escapes, people are not horses and locking them up (via intimidation) is not in accordance with our concept of civilized behavior.
When you come right down to it, there's not a whole lot of difference between preemptive behavior based on suspicion and behavior based on prejudice. Both call for action without any basis in fact. That's not what this country is supposed to be about.
The doctrine of preemption not only needs to be exposed, it needs to be actively and vociferously rejected.
Posted by Hannah at August 18, 2004 05:21 PM