Book Reviews | Gordon Campbell | News Flashes | Scoop Features | Scoop Video | Strange & Bizarre | Search

 


Satire: The 'Liberty Leash' Makes A Comeback

The 'Liberty Leash' makes a comeback at Abu Ghraib prison


Once the premier symbol of democracy, freedom's tether has been strapped on one last time.
Satire from… freepressed.com


Caption: Pfc. Linndie England leads an Iraqi civilian to the promised land of a free Iraq by tying a leather strap around his neck and dragging his naked body across the prison floor. Score one for democracy!

America's Rape Rooms-- Long ago discarded into the dustbin of history, the single most important tool in the spread of democracy worldwide has once again emerged to free an oppressed people.

The Liberty Leash has played an integral role in the liberation of the human condition throughout the centuries.

In Rome, the birthplace of democracy, the predecessor of the leash, the shackle, could be seen adorning the necks of citizens in training, or slaves, in every city and village.

In the Dark Ages, the practice of setting people free by the use of restraints was frowned upon and so was practiced only in underground hideouts called dungeons.

It wasn't until settlers set foot on the shores of the new world seeking freedom from the tyranny of European kings that tying humans up with ropes and chains for the purpose of freeing them was openly permitted in society.

Thanks to the Bush administration's disdain for the Geneva Conventions, the Liberty Leash is once again at the forefront of coerced democratization.

But despite its rich history, many Americans had never heard of the Liberty Leash until photos of the restraint in action were released by the popular CBS TV news program, 60 Minutes II.
"Why is that guy naked and wouldn't that thing choke him?" Cynthia Marshalls of Burkport, Maine naively asked of the liberating lead. "Oh my god, are they laughing? That's so disturbing."

Others readily accepted the idea of humiliating Iraqis to teach them what democracy is all about.

"Hell yes we should tie em' up. They're all godless monkeys after all," said Pritchard Johnson, a Baptist minister and president of the local Republican party in Maconville, Georgia. "The only way we're going to bring American style democracy to the Middle East is at the end of a gun or a leash. It's up to them."

Bush administration officials are already hoping to capitalize on the resurgence of the Liberty Leash by offering special autographed editions from members of his cabinet.

"You too can own your very own freedom restraint if you act now. Supplies are limited," Bush said. "You see, I'm the new dictator of Iraq so I say who gets to wear a leash and who doesn't."

ENDS


© Scoop Media

 
 
 
 
 
Top Scoops Headlines

 

Gordon Campbell: On The Skycity Convention Center Blowout & A Negative MBIE Review

If the government really did have good tidings of great joy you can bet it wouldn’t be strewing them about at Christmas time – which is, traditionally, the dumping ground for terrible news that the government fervently hopes the public will be too distracted to notice. And so verily this Christmas Eve we learn of (a) the explosion of costs to the taxpayer... More>>

Syed Atiq ul Hassan: Eye-Opener For Islamic Community

An event of siege, terror and killing carried out by Haron Monis in the heart of Sydney business district has been an eye-opener for the Islamic Community in Australia. Haron was shot down before he killed two innocent people, a lawyer and a manager ... More>>

Jonathan Cook: US Feels The Heat On Palestine Vote At UN

The floodgates have begun to open across Europe on recognition of Palestinian statehood. On 12 December the Portuguese parliament became the latest European legislature to call on its government to back statehood, joining Sweden, Britain, Ireland, France ... More>>

ALSO:

Fightback: MANA Movement Regroups, Call For Mana Wahine Policy

In the wake of this years’ electoral defeat, the MANA Movement is regrouping. On November 29th, Fightback members attended a Members’ Hui in Tāmaki/Auckland, with around 70 attending from around the country. More>>

Ramzy Baroud: The Mockingjay Of Palestine: “If We Burn, You Burn With Us”

Raed Mu’anis was my best friend. The small scar on top of his left eyebrow was my doing at the age of five. I urged him to quit hanging on a rope where my mother was drying our laundry. He wouldn’t listen, so I threw a rock at him. More>>

ALSO:

Don Franks: Future Of Work Commission: Labour's Shrewd Move

Lunging boldly towards John Key, shouting 'Cut the crap!' - Andrew Little was great, wasn't he? Labour's new leader spoke for many people fed up with Key's flippant arrogant deceit. Andrew Little nailing the Prime minister on lying about contacting a rightwing ... More>>

Asia-Pacific Journal: MSG Headache, West Papuan Heartache? Indonesia’s Melanesian Foray

Asia and the Pacific--these two geographic, political and cultural regions encompass entire life-worlds, cosmologies and cultures. Yet Indonesia’s recent enthusiastic outreach to Melanesia indicates an attempt to bridge both the constructed and actual ... More>>

Valerie Morse: The Security State: We Should Not Be Surprised, But We Should Be Worried

On the very day that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security released her report into the actions of people the Prime Minister’s office in leaking classified Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) documents to right-wing smearmonger Cameron ... More>>

Get More From Scoop

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Top Scoops
Search Scoop  
 
 
Powered by Vodafone
NZ independent news