Unsubscribe Me From Government Torture

I grew up in a Marine Corps town, instilled with a fierce sense of patriotism. I was proud to be part of the United States of America, the greatest nation on Earth. Not great because of our military power, but because of our values. We stood against tyranny. We stood for human rights. We rescued the world from the Nazis. We aided victims of disasters caused by either Man or Nature. We would gladly suffer ourselves to right a wrong, to help others. We were the heroes. From a very young age I believed we were perhaps the most morally evolved people humanity had ever seen. I still tear up when I hear patriotic songs.

As an adult I know that the pure version of that fantasy was false even before I was born, but what I felt inside myself was real. If I felt this way, so also some of my fellow countrymen did as well. The fantasy isn't wholly impossible. We can, as a nation, approach these high ideals and behaviors. We can evolve morally in a more just, a more heroic direction. It hasn't turned out that way though. Today I don't tear up with pride when I hear patriotic songs, I tear up with grief. I am ashamed to be an American.

This film from Amnesty International shows a performance artist subjecting himself to a typical CIA enhanced interrogation technique, called "stress position." Prisoners are forced to stand for many hours in positions that cause extreme muscle fatigue. They are told that the floor is electrified, or that they will be shot if they fail to stay in position. The man in the video is not acting, he actually did this for six hours and his response is real. Two more films showcasing other methods are forthcoming. Ask yourself. Is this who we are? Is this what you asked your government to do for you?

Comments

[bjorn]

Hi Dav,
As long as there are people with an open mind like you there is still hope for the US.
Best,
Bjorn

[dav]

Thanks Bjorn. There doesn't seem to be many of us left unfortunately.

[honda90]

This is not very torturous, when there is no permanent damage, the "victim" will be fine in a few days. The viet cong pulled out John McCain's toenails which permanently affected his ability to walk.

Why not be fair to America and show the other side of the coin? Put up a video of our enemies beheading innocent civilians they have kidnapped!

[dav]

Because, honda90, there's no need to point out that other people do worse things. There's always someone who does something worse, but that does not alleviate us from moral judgment.

Using your logic you could say it's perfectly ok to rob someone on the street, because other people kill people and then rob them.

The only thing in question here is what we should allow as Americans, and I don't think we should allow this. If you don't think it's torturous, why don't you spend a few hours trying it yourself and report back.