The pursuit of justice
On Friday night along with about 1099 others I made my way to the City Recital hall to a GetUp! gig to hear MAJ Michael Mori speak.
It was fascinating (and refreshing) to hear someone in a US military uniform openly criticise his government and its structures. The Major’s flow chart left us in doubt that David cannot be released from the psychological horror that is Guantanamo bay. The Major was asked how he can keep his energy to defend David from sapping, year after year, against the structurally unfair and overwhelming odds, and he answered simply,
“Justice. Whether I am the prosecuting counsel or the defense counsel, my role is the same – Getting to the truth and being a part of a just outcome”
The most disturbing bit of data that came out of the night was the Major’s answer to the question,
“Given that Tony Blair did not tolerate Britons being kept in Guantanamo bay, do you think that president Bush and Co., if asked by HoWARd, would have released David Hicks?”
“Without a doubt”
The Major is a classic example of American culture for good – loud, brash, and without the slightest hint of timidity. It was no wonder that at the end Australians gave this man a standing ovation.
August 27th, 2006 at 10:53 am
I missed the standing ovation whilst trying to get a better angle for photos!
I have a very rough MP3 recording of the lecture. Working on some post-production tricks to take out some of the hall echo. Will post if there’s any way to clean it up.
August 27th, 2006 at 10:58 am
You would have heard the thundrous applause any time the Major spoke out criticising the Australian government’s indifference to David and timidity to Bush et al … the standing ovation was the climax of all that gratitude!
August 27th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Rough as the MP3 recording is, the applause is thunderous.
August 28th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Oh I love MM. I remember him from a while back, when Hicks had “only” (!) been incarcerated for a few months, interviewed on TV and saying “We will not abandon David Hicks”. And he has stuck to that, bless him. Definitels a diamond in the rough that one.
September 2nd, 2006 at 7:11 pm
I posted a relatively good quality mp3 version of the Mori presentation on the GetUp blog.