We watched a news program this morning with a discussion about the first hundred days and where the country is on certain issues. I had to do a double-take, rewind the DVR and close my gaping mouth. According to one survey nearly half the country now consider torture as an acceptable way to gain information from prisoners such as those held in Guantanamo.
That is a significant change from early in the year. Apparently the debate over the issue, kept alive by key decision-makers from the previous administration, caused some people to rethink the issue. OKAY folks, are you out of your minds or are you simply watching too much 24? In the conflicts and wars that our country has fought we have been able to hold our heads up and stand with those nations who condemned the acts of countries who tortured and abused their prisoners. When our people went too far we disciplined them.
There is no reason to systematically torture and abuse people again and again. That is simply an evil action. Nor is it right to use the rendition two-step to avoid the intent of the law. As a nation we have attempted to eradicate those behaviors and practices that degrade us and harm us as a people. We ensure that the most evil serial murderer or drug lord is given due process and is not abused. We do not negotiate with terrorists even in the face of harm to innocents. We do not abuse domestic terrorists when apprehended. We condemn the actions of nations who abuse any civil or military person our own or others. We cry out against the atrocities (though often too softly) such as those in Darfur and Burma. So why oh WHY do we think it okay to torture another human being simply because he is from another country? Even if someone decided that he could interpret the laws so that the previous administration could falsely justify torture and abuse such actions are still morally and ethically WRONG.
We as a nation cannot talk from both sides. We must hold the line of decent and humane treatment and apply the highest standards to our behavior without exception. We must not become the evil we oppose.
Onedia
*sigh*..Oh, I know. Incredible isn’t it? The whole issue is like a nightmare that won’t stop.
As I read your post I thought of all the letters I once wrote for Amnesty International. Their letter campains to other countries have helped. I wonder if Amnesty International is going to put the US on the list of Nations that agrees with torture. The violence that seems to have invaded all parts of our lives and the lives of our children seems to have made the torture seem childlike. I still remember when the 3 Stoges were considered violent and now they are nothing compared to what is on Tv in the name of entertainment. Thank You for being a voice of reason.
Grace and Tamera, I do not understand why there is any debate on this. Thanks for your comments.
I’m thinking it’s the same people who didn’t vote for Obama, but I could be wrong.
I am hoping this will change as the discussion continues and we listen to nonsense from those who attempt to defend themselves. I read an interesting article today where an elementary student was asking Condoleesa Rice to explain how waterboarding is not torture.