Quote 5: Freedom?

Pg 309, Ebook Edition

“Honor bound to defend freedom”

“Honor bound to defend freedom” has more significance than being the ironic and a frankly appalling idea that become even more atrocious the deeper into Mohamedou story I ventured. This is quote and not a quote at the same time. The phrase came up only once in the memoir, and it was a direct quote of Mahamadou reading the sign that is shown above. The sign itself was used to fire up the guards to uphold “honour” in America’s pledge for “justice” and “freedom”. Justice and freedom that can only be gained, as it seems, by torturing the weak and defenseless regardless of crimes. To tell you the truth I read that line about fives times before getting over the disbelief and disgust I felt. Disgust that quickly came over me again after one of Mohamedou’s nameless interrogators overheard him talking with one of his guards (a nice guy) about said sign’s irony, and decided to fire the guard and torture poor Mohamadou as punishment. So where is the honour and freedom? So many American men and women are joining the military to uphold these virtues. The contents of the slogan are so stereotypical of America it has become a disguise that has allowed the government to create judical grey areas, like GTMO, as long as it is not on American soil.

Check out a review of this theatrical representation of GTMO. I doubt that the group is still performing, but is interesting and goes over in great detail about the controversy surrounding “Honor bound to defend freedom”:

Guantanamo: Honour Bound to Defend Freedom