Theory

The rectification of these two polar opposites seems highly unlikely at this point. One side calls for an outright end to all torture and interrogation and the providing of rights akin to that of an American citizen while the other side calls for harsher punishments and a more aggressive policy towards accused terrorists. In the past decade I can only find one occasion in which both sides were united against a common threat and that was in the months following September 11th 2001. It is painful to think that an atrocity of that magnitude is only action that has been shown to unite us and I pray we do not require another tragedy to come together again. For now the best strategy to unite these polar opposites is to come back to the things we have in common: our love of country and our desire to protect ourselves and each other from harm. Once we realize that we are indeed on the same side, we can go about finding a solution to this problem. This means however, that we will have to become intelligent citizens and not fall prey to media or political bias. Many of the most polar issues of this debate have only been accentuated by rhetoric that largely neglects or manipulates the facts. As a people we essentially believe in the same basic principles and if we can put aside our biases and passions, we can come to a consensus as to what needs to be done.