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We Have to Do Something About Torture | 14 comments (14 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

I hate to write this, but -- (none / 1)

According to a 2004 ABC poll on torture, many Americans approve of torture, and a majority accept at least some forms of it. Further,

Young adults, under age 30, are about twice as likely as senior citizens to say torture is acceptable in some cases.

By a large margin, people approved of practices that can break a person -- blinding with a hood, sleep deprivation, and relentless, deafening noise. They just don't see this as "torture". About 25% of men approved of methods such as holding under water, threatening relatives, and electric shock.

2005 MSNBC poll: "In America, 61 percent of those surveyed agreed torture is justified at least on rare occasions."

2005 Harris poll: "Majorities of Public Believe that Torture, 'Rendition' and the Use of Secret Prison Camps Outside U.S. are Sometimes Justified"

"Sometimes" and "rare" are far too elastic, and "often" begins to seem like mere over-enthusiasm not crime.
---------

The ugly question: What fraction those who "disapprove of (some) torture" would actively support prosecution? -- After more years of numbing? After generational change has moved another notch? After our highest elected officials (not rogue agents) have given their blessing, and Congress has tacitly approved, and the noise machine has worked hard to shift even more forms of torture into the acceptable or not-so-bad category?

Truth and Reconciliation
This situation argues for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with a broad mandate and based on normal -- not rigidly legal -- standards of evidence, and of right and wrong. Josh Marshall has called for one.

Prosecution, no matter how just and desirable, would be a narrow, difficult, protracted, and (sadly) divisive remedy. (An open, non-prosecutorial inquiry, however, might afterward make prosecution more practical, and might even be a shortcut to conviction. I hope so.)

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Sun Apr 13th, 2008 at 04:30:32 PM EST

A few more words... (4.00 / 2)

The Bush inner circle may have directly authorized forms of torture that horrify enough people that prosecution would work, and the evidence may be clear enough for this to go forward with reasonable speed. We need to find out.

Words and ideas I offer here may be used freely and without attribution.

by technopolitical on Sun Apr 13th, 2008 at 04:39:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I hate to write this, but -- (none / 1)

That's what I've been thinking also. That after 8 years of the bush cabal our public mindset has been beaten down to accept anything including torture by I'm afraid far too many people in this country. The 'good german' syndrome is definately in effect and affecting way too much of the general public.(fostered of course by the msm-and the true stumbling block to informing the citizens of what is really happening to their country)

That is what is truly scary-the point in this country where people can argue FOR torture.

As for Booman's suggestion that we have to do something, I agree but I don't know exactly what yet it is we can do that will start to make a difference and keep or get this into the public consciousness. Some good suggestions so far and I think we have to keep talking about this until we can come up with some sort of coordinated plan.

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Sun Apr 13th, 2008 at 05:29:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I hate to write this, but -- (none / 0)

... people do evolve beyond answers to polarizing questionnaires fed by propagandizing pollsters (controlled by the GOP) back in 2004 and '05. (Although, I'll admit that republicans still control America's media oligopoly --- otherwise we would have a free and independent press --- that we don't.)

by lespool on Sun Apr 13th, 2008 at 09:46:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We Have to Do Something About Torture | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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