Email to President Bush today - On his Veto - allowing waterboarding to be used by the CIA

Sent via email to President Bush -

Mr. President -

As fellow United Methodists, we are bound by the Social Principles of our faith. They include the following:We hold governments responsible for the protection of the rights of the people to free and fair elections and to the freedoms of speech, religion, assembly, communications media, and petition for redress of grievances without fear of reprisal; to the right to privacy; and to the guarantee of the rights to adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, and health care. The form and the leaders of all governments should be determined by exercise of the right to vote guaranteed to all adult citizens. We also strongly reject domestic surveillance and intimidation of political opponents by governments in power and all other misuses of elective or appointive offices. The use of detention and imprisonment for the harassment and elimination of political opponents or other dissidents violates fundamental human rights. Furthermore, the mistreatment or torture of persons by governments for any purpose violates Christian teaching and must be condemned and/or opposed by Christians and churches wherever and whenever it occurs. The Church regards the institution of slavery as an infamous evil. All forms of enslavement are totally prohibited and shall in no way be tolerated by the Church.

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/c.frLJK2PKLqF/b.3713157/k.DE01/182164_The_Political_Community/apps/nl/newsletter.asp
Mr. President, waterboarding is torture. Always. No ends justify our country stooping to these means. No scrap of information is worth losing our moral way as a people. History will judge this generation of leaders by decisions such as this one. I regret your decision to veto legislation that would forbidden the use of waterboarding. I pray that you will reconsider, for the sake of our country and for the legacy we leave future generations.
Sincerely in Christ,