Remember when being an American meant that you not only didn’t worry about pictures of our treatment of prisoners getting out into the public but actually encouraged it because, as Americans, we were so proud of the standards we used in that treatment. America treated its war prisoners humanely and decently and we welcomed the world to come look at us and learn how a civilized and democratic nation treated even those who would harm us.
Now, we have to hide the photos out of shame for what we’ve done and fear that our treatment of others will be the way our enemies treat our soldiers.
Yeah, remember when being American meant having a high standard and being proud? Keep that memory close. It seems as though it will be a long time before our actions will justify it again.