An American Truth and Reconciliation Commission?

[CounterPropagandist]

Let me make it clear from the beginning that I enthusiastically agree with those that are pushing for a full investigation and prosecution of the Bush Administration, its cronies and it’s laundry list of crimes and treasons, not only because the country needs to know its real history in order to prevent it from happening again, and because the fraudulent causes of the economic collapse are not going to be revealed unless we do, but because we need to discourage any future presidents from being tempted to employ the tool box of illegal and unconstitutional powers Mr. Bush has arrogated to the Oval Office.

However, everything I have learned about Mr. Obama tells me he is a much truer Christian, in the finest sense of the word, than I am, and a steady pragmatist. I would find this hard, but I’m not qualified to be president either. He has said he needs the full cooperation of Congress and both parties if he is to attack the huge list of problems we face and give us the real change we elected him for and expect. Maybe he is right, and maybe he is naïve, but it’s worth a try. His reported comments regarding Sen. Joseph Lieberman urging that bygones be bygones are most revealing. I think Joe must go, but that is not appearing likely right now.

So, what to do? I have an idea that might resonate with the times.

In 1995, after the abolishment of apartheid, Nelson Mandela set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in order to promote national unity after one of the most violent and shameful periods of South African history. The TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995, and was based in Cape Town. Leading human rights figures were prominent in it’s workings. The mandate of the commission was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, reparation and rehabilitation. The commission brought forth many witnesses giving testimony about the secret and immoral acts committed by the Apartheid Government, the liberation forces including the ANC, and other forces for violence that many say would not have come out into the open otherwise.

Perpetrators of crimes under the old aparthied regime were able to come forward and disclose activities in South Africa that would have ever remained shrouded in the mists of history, without fear of retribution, and the country was able to purge its past and avoid continued political clashes or coups that would have otherwise resulted. It met with much opposition at the time but at the end it was generally embraced as a success. (See Wiki article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa).)

The US has a lot of dirty linen to launder at this point, probably far more evil than most people realize. I have said for many years this would have to happen some day if we are to survive our past. The lessons of the Iran-Contra capitulation of the Democratic party in the 80’s, that allowed Republican lawbreakers and traitors to continue to operate into the 90’s under Clinton, must be recognized. It is of paramount importance that the truth come out, and that the country be reconciled and learn the important lessons that are needed if we are not to repeat the errors of the past. This would not be painless for those that participated, because they would not escape public obliquy as they have in the past. We would learn who we really are as a people, in ways that we have never known and could not anticipate. Just a few days ago, Kieth Olbermann on MSNBC commented that he is receiving a lot of suggestions from Bush insiders that the real dirt has not come out yet, and that the whisleblowers will be very busy on January 20.

Would Barack Obama become our Nelson Mandela? It makes sense. Some observers have noted the comparison. I think it would work. If we don’t do something, we risk our future.

Take this idea and feel free to steal it.

[derby378]

1. NO AMNESTY FOR BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS. PERIOD.

We don't need a TRC - we need criminal charges, trial by jury, and stiff sentences for those who attempted to rape our nation.

[psychmommy]

3. here here, i agree.

let's see some rich folks go to jail.

[CounterPropagandist]

5. Not going to work

It's not the American Way. Our framers were revolted by the events of the French Revolution that quickly succeded ours and determined that was not for them. Evolution, not revolution, and we have benefited from their wisdom.

[CounterPropagandist]

4. I agree with you...BUT

As I said, that would be my first position, too.

But I fear that it won't happen as I have explained, and then what?? Something else must be done, rather than do nothing.

[frebrd]

6. Nothing "attempted" about it - they did rape our nation! n/t

[gratuitous]

2. It's an interesting concept

I read Desmond Tutu's book "No Future Without Forgiveness." Tutu sat on the TRC in South Africa, and heard testimony from victims and perpetrators alike about the worst depradations of apartheid, and as bad as the Bush administration has been for our country, its constitution and its standing in the world, I think apartheid was worse. But it's a close call without knowing for sure everything the Bush administration did.

The rules were pretty firm for the TRC, and the time limits for coming forward were strict. A lot of perpetrators didn't appear, but a lot did, with harrowing stories of torture, mayhem, and murder all done under color of law. Some of the stories still rattle around in my old brain pan, and I don't think I'll ever get rid of them. Could this sort of thing work in America? Hard to say. Our society is deeply ingrained with the Myth of Redemptive Violence, and letting people go "scot-free" for a confession doesn't satisfy our hardcore notion of "justice" which demands eyes, teeth, fingers and toes in retribution.

[CounterPropagandist]

7. I do not agree aparthied was worse.

Not necessarily. It was just different. If you look at the history of atrocities committed by our government around the world, I think it would shock and horrify us. It would serve as a model for the world and lead to world peace.

[CounterPropagandist]

8. An American Stab in the Back

As further examples of eras where we failed to find the truth, i would say that the goverment's machinations in support of the Vietnam War remained unknown to most Americans, resulting in a division that underpinned the culture wars and caused many "real Americans" to believe that American lost Vietnam because of weak kneed Democrats. A view that brought us the neo-cons and the campaign of John McCain.

Echoes of the famous "stab in the back" that helped bring ught Hitler to power, the idea that Germany lost WWI because of the failure of German generals and support of the public. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolchstosslegende.

If we do not, we risk the same historic scenario.