Bleeker 45 - 45 Bleeker St (Lafayette st.)

A docudrama by two British journalists based one some public statements by government officials as well as on interviews with and red-cross letters by some British inmates at the US "*-Camp" [note: what is the proper term for a camp where people mostly based on their ethnic and religious classification are being held against their will for years, without being charged of any crime or offense? The historically most accurate term would be "concentration camp", but the US administration prefers "detention camp", I believe...] in Guantanamo bay.

The stories we hear is that of tourists, idealists and business opportunities. Of men who were at the wrong place a t the wrong time, with the wrong kind of beard, ethnic background or religion. This is the only side of the story we hear, since none of the various shady government agencies or secret services involved have ever bothered to charge these men of any crime. One of the benefits that Britain got out of being such a "staunch allay" in the Iraq war, was to get those men transferred from Guantanamo bay into its custody, where they were released shortly after.

Having witnessed first hand since september 11 2001, how quickly a scared population is willing to give up even deeply rooted moral principles, like a respect for rule of law and the right to due process seems to brutally illustrate the fears that some of the founding fathers (e.g. the Federalists like Mr. Hamilton...) of this country had about unchecked popular rule. The dangers of mob rule, or as described by de Tocqueville, as a risk and consequence of the "Tyranny of the Majority " inherent in any fully democratic society: since in a democracy the majority has (legitimately) the ultimate, absolute, unchecked and unlimited power, there is no protection for the rights of any minority or individual from the sweeping passions of the majority. In a democracy, the majority may always be "right" by definition, but not always just or morally "good" by any lasting standard. But since morality is also defined by the majority in a democratic society, no democratic society will ever admit that... From the Salem witch trials, to the communist hunting of the McCarty years during the cold war, lynch-mobs and race riots during the civil rights struggle, to "preventive-warfare", unlimited detention and the patriot act in the post-9/11 hysteria - the majority in the name of the people has every now and then committed atrocities that go against its deepest principles (and that it later came to regret...).

I am convinced that once the hysteria fades, the ruling majority of the US population will once again come to its senses and regret some of the acts currently being committed in its name (and at least with its tacit agreement) - however this is a weak consolation for the people whose lives or livelihood are currently being ruined or destroyed...