I warn you. This will not be an easy experience.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Torture
I realize that this is an abrupt about face from the usual content of this blog, but I just viewed a documentary of the US torture policies that is extensively documented and thoroughly researched. I believe that, as painful as it will be for most people to see, that this one film should be required viewing by all Americans. After you view the film, check out their documentation, which is there for anyone to view. After seeing the film and viewing the documents, I believe that you will be convinced that criminal prosecution should be brought against those government officials who were responsible for these actions. I realize that they attempted to cover their actions with immunity from prosecution, but something must be done or we will certainly see these abuses repeated by our government or by others against us. View the documentary HERE.
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Sorry, I can not feel much regret for the kind of "torture" these detainees receive. Many of them have done far, far worse to their victims than is ever being done to them. One hundred degree rooms??? I have worked in environs that are hotter than that. Not enjoyable, but none of these could I really call "torture".
ReplyDeleteThen why are you not willing to reveal your identity?
ReplyDeleteWell, you have to be intelligent to figure out how to identify yourself the first time you get on the comments, and I couldn't figure out how to do it, so anonymous was easy. Now I see my name pops up automatically today, so now you know who disagrees with you. To be torture is where you lop off someones fingers or gouge out there eyes. Not just deprive them of a few of lifes comforts until a do-gooder complains to the press enough. And, again, just now the silly machine says my comment could not be processed, try again. Pissy little things.
ReplyDeleteWell, Wayne, your definition does not agree with the Geneva Conventions on treatment of prisoners. If you want to see the text go to:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/COM/375-590018?OpenDocument
If you have viewed the film and call what you see there "depriving them of a few of life's comforts" I can only say I'm sorry. I guess I'll just continue to be one of the "do-gooders."
When one sees all the abuses of the Geneva Convention over the years by EVERYONE, and one hears of the sometimes horrible crimes that these detainees have committed on society, i.e. the 9/11 fiasco, then I consider their definition of torture meaningless in the scope of the topic. Pluck their eyes out. What should be the treatment of some of these terrible criminals if one considers that in many of their countries the punishment for a girl who speaks to an unrelated male is to be beaten to death. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo, your standards for acceptable treatment of prisoners by our government is to consider the standards of the countries you describe as abusing human rights and decency and to set these as your standards? Take the lowest standard and adopt it?
ReplyDeleteAnd, by the way, you are assuming that all the detainees are criminals. Do you know that in many cases totally innocent people were swept into the system by bounty hunters who were paid by the head. That is one reason that nearly half of the detainees have been released without being charged with any crime and after they were tortured. I can just hear your response: "Well, you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. Bad luck for those people." How far are you willing to go with this?
ReplyDeleteWe probably should be worse than any of the enemy. Our namby-pamby(is that a real word?) approach to treatment of our enemies makes us more of a target and certainly they do not respect us more because of our forgiving and trusting nature. How far am I willing to go??
ReplyDeleteI feel that almost any form of torture is acceptable if the torture of one "terrorist" can save one American life. Unfortunately, we will not agree on this, ever, but thank you anyway for helping me with my HS algebra.
Your words speak for themselves and I'll add nothing. Other readers may judge for themselves, but do watch the video.
ReplyDelete