the outcome of the election

[Occhidiangela]

I'm surprised that Armin's calling of Guantanamo a concentration camp is causing such an uproar, since it has been called that throughout the world media since it was established and informtion leaked from it. There have been countless discussions "is Guantanamo a concentration camp" left and right since then, and I'm surprised how anyone could have missed them.

Yes, in my opinion Guantanamo pretty much fits the definition of a concentration camp. Of course it's not like the Nazi concentration camps that had gas chambers installed during the last years of WWII. But ever since the British started using them in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, concentration camps have been used, quoting Wikipedia now, as "a large detention centre created for political opponents, aliens, specific ethnic or religious groups, civilians of a critical war-zone, or other groups of people, often during a war." Well.

I know that a lot of people who have lost relatives in Nazi concentration camps feel the same way about Guantanamo, and are outraged by its existance. Rightfully so.
Yes, it is no death camp - like Nazi concentration camps weren't death camps during the first years of their existance. That doesn't mean I expect Guantanamo to become one. Still, basic human rights are abused there and noone willing to learn anything from history should tolerate it. In my opinion this doesn't have anything to do with one's nationality.
[right][snapback]59366[/snapback][/right]

Nice. You choose to re emphasize an emotionally charged word, one with Hitlerist connotations, and wonder why people get their backs up.

Try this for what Guantanamo Bay facility: It's a prison, where prisoners are awaiting trial. Too mmundane for you? Was there a concentration camp in Germany, post WW II, where the Nuremburg indictees were held? Or was it a "military prison?"

A military prison, go figure. Try using an analogy that fits. ;)

That description is far more accurate than "concentration camp." But when someone wants to charge a subject with emotion, word choice is of course key. Been there, done that. Or, should I say, do it all the time? :P

Occhi