Since it was opened, the prison at Guantanamo Bay has represented all that went wrong with our respect for human rights in a time of crisis. We allowed the imprisonment of people who had seen no judge, who had been heard by no jury, who were assigned no lawyer, against whom we saw no evidence. We set human rights aside in the name of protecting America. But we had forgotten that without human rights, “America” is an incomplete vision.

The prison at Guantanamo Bay has weighed heavy in my heart for years. After watching my colleagues at the ACLU and Center for Constitutional Rights fail again and again in their attempts to secure basic legal access for the prisoners, I had become convinced that we would not see the end of this most basic violation of American values.

Next week, President Obama will issue an executive order to shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. We will start our gradual return to the founding ideals that were etched into our first documents:

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Four years ago, the Chicago Tribune printed my very angry letter that I wrote after the paper endorsed George Bush for a second term. I don’t think I would write that letter again.

I wouldn’t write that letter again, because I’m not angry and young. I’m older, and in need of inspiration.

• I want to believe that my country respects human rights, and that we will treat all prisoners humanely and give all people a fair trial.
• I want to believe that American women and girls have the same opportunities as American men and boys, that, as equal citizens, women make private choices about our own bodies.
• I want to believe that Americans can protect our environment and become a world leader in clean energy and green business models.
• I want to believe that as an American citizen, I can marry the person I love, no matter who they are.
• I want to believe that my sons and daughters will never fight an unjust war.

I want to know that our President believes all these things, and that we are all working together to fill our lives with meaning.

Tomorrow, when I vote for Barack Obama, I’ll take a moment to thank the people that helped shape my life, whose lives ended too soon, and because of whom I seek to make all of our lives better. Maybe you have someone like that too?

Obama +6.8

I had a stress dream this morning that it was Election Day and I had slept in too late and forgotten to write up my list of candidates for whom I was voting. Don’t let my stress dream happen to you! Check out VoteforJudges.org and ChicagoElections.com to get ready for next Tuesday!

(P.S. Wilco is giving away a song to anyone who pledges to vote!)