Spinning off its axis

Our democracy that is. It is founded on the idea that the government is to be restrained and not permitted to violate the law. The Bush administration has decided that the government is permitted to do just that, provided the ends justify the means (and this precedes Sept. 11, 2001 -- it goes to the earliest days of this administration).

Anthony Lewis writes of "Guantanamo's long shadow" in today's Times,

Beyond morality, there is the essential role of law in a democracy, especially in American democracy. This country has no ancient mythology to hold it together, no kings or queens. We have had the law to revere. No government, we tell ourselves, is above the law.

Over many years the United States has worked to persuade and compel governments around the world to abide by the rules. By spurning our own rules, we put that effort at risk. What Justice Louis Brandeis said about law at home applies internationally as well: "If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law."

Guantanamo Bay? Abu Ghraib? The American people avert their eyes, blink stupidly, and exclaim, "Didja hear they found that li'l Boy Scout?"

In timely fashion, von reminds us of Pericles' Funeral Oration.

If then we prefer to meet danger with a light heart but without laborious training, and with a courage which is gained by habit and not enforced by law, are we not greatly the better for it? Since we do not anticipate the pain, although, when the hour comes, we can be as brave as those who never allow themselves to rest; thus our city is equally admirable in peace and in war. For we are lovers of the beautiful in our tastes and our strength lies, in our opinion, not in deliberation and discussion, but that knowledge which is gained by discussion preparatory to action. For we have a peculiar power of thinking before we act, and of acting, too, whereas other men are courageous from ignorance but hesitate upon reflection. ....