Great, President Bush has now authorized torture and suspended habeas corpus — but only for bad people, so it’s all OK. You know, so much has been said about this on both sides, there is not much I can add. However, something reminded me of another similar story of treason and terror so I dug up the dialog from the play. (The movie is fantastic too, if you haven’t seen it.)

All of this is far too intellectual for political debate these days, but logic behind habeas corpus has been well understood for about 600 years.

ROPER: “So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!”

MORE: “Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?”

ROPER: “Yes, I’d cut down every law in England to do that!”

MORE: “Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned ’round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?

This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man’s laws, not God’s! And if you cut them down — and you’re just the man to do it — do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?

Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!”

It seems like the whole nation has forgotten the last 600 years of history. Terrorists and criminals will be found guilty and held accountable under the law. Due process will be of no help to them. Laws and due process exist to protect the innocent, not the guilty.

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