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Astonish the
World By John Ingram Mitchell As submitted at Boston
University in February of 2008 What is
torture? Is It painful to the mind, body and spirit? According to João
Soares, the Cultural Councillor for the
town of Lisbon in Portugal, as
said so well on the Historical Torture website, that “Torture is the natural history of infamy. And it is not unusual that those tortured yesterday become the torturers of today. This has in fact occurred since the ancient times, maybe with an accentuation during the Inquisition's sinister trials, when complex confessions were obtained by using extremely brutal actions and incredibly sophisticated torture methods.” (1).
Another more academic definition of ‘torture’ leaves out an important component of João’s definition. It dose not confirm it completely. I had pulled one of my favorite dictionaries down from a bookshelf in my living room to verify and perhaps contrast his vivid description of ‘torture’. The dictionary stated only that it was the “infliction of severe bodily pain, especially as a punishment or means of persuasion.” (Pocket Oxford Dictionary 964). It made no inference to the receiver becoming the torturer in the future. Perhaps we all have experienced ‘torture’ in some way or fashion. His interpretation was quite thought provoking. I had wanted another definition after reading João Soares’ account on the web to see if there was something that might collaborate it. They were similar and truly not the same; that was certain. They were in agreement, in essence, though not in the source of where ‘torture’ comes from. To me they differed only slightly, yet on an important distinction. The nuance is in the inference of the transference of ‘torture’ from the receiver to perpetrator as a sort of training for the next event. Naturally, a question evolved when I comprehended this definition with a new understanding and perspective. When is torture not torture? Or when is torture truly torture?’ Just thinking about how to mine for information on this heinous topic presented a challenge for me. I know there is no shortage of information on the subject of ‘torture’. I wanted a better understanding than general knowledge from reading history or watching the TV news. 'Torture' brings the worst of humanity to my mind. If we, and I am including you the reader here, go beyond the 'dogma' we may uncover something more complex, the justifications and fears. We will find then that this really isn't 'torture' because according to an anonymous source in the Los Angeles Times article by Greg Miller who said, “ “Tens of thousands of American Air Force and naval airman were 'waterboarded' as part of their survival training,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We don't maim as part of our training. We don't sodomize. Those are things that are always bad... Intellectually, there has got to be a difference between [waterboarding] and the others; otherwise we wouldn't have done it in training.” ”(2). Let's see, that might mean that the Air Force and Navy airman could be subjected to 'waterboarding' then. After all, they might need to train for an emergency escape maneuver in the water should their craft crash at sea. That's smart; plan ahead. Let’s apply a little common sense or logic here to see if this makes sense. Why aren't the Marines and Army included in this 'survival training' that this anonymous source referred to in their statement? I guess the Marines and Army folks aren’t expected to ever face ‘waterboarding’. The anonymous source Miller quoted perhaps forgot or didn't know. OK, I forget and sometimes I don't know either. Isn't it odd though that those two branches of the military, the Army and the Marines, would not be included in this 'survival training'? To me, this seems a little akin to rationalizing. This is a critical point in validating the use of an old Spanish Inquisitional ‘torture’ technique. On matters like the application of ‘torture’ by Americans definitely gets my full attention. How about you? Does this get your attention? Why don't all branches get this vital training? I would include this as a fundamental, given that it is a 'survival training', wouldn't you? Distraction is used in deception sometimes. Is ‘torture’ deceptive? It can be unintentional and sometimes it can be used to commit crimes. More entertaining uses of distraction are, for example, to perform magic, usually positive. That makes sense. I dislike this malfunction, that of ‘torture’ and the human behavior that carries it out. There is horror in the word 'torture'. The other day an article
dealing with intentional 'torture' came to light once more and was in
the news. It had been hidden for over 30 years. Still not done with its victims or consequences, ‘torture’
revealed its evidence once more. In reading this, it brought to my mind the
many unpleasant thoughts and images from history and the recent news in the
world today. Thank God I had never known the horror I read on the February 26th
in Reuters telling me that even “The
chief torturer under the Khmer Rouge "Killing Fields" regime wept
and prayed on Tuesday as he led the judges who will try him for crimes
against humanity around the mass graves for some of its victims.”(3). Is it
only 'torture' when it is planned or when it is remembered? Does it
hurt the inflictor too? It did here, according to what the reporter
described. Those who conceive of the atrocity of 'torture', whether
carried out by 'us' or 'them', attempt to use justification and
rationalization as a mental band-aid for the wound that it inflicts. When 'torture' isn't being thought, performed or received, where does it reside and where does it originate? Who had it first? Men or women, 'us' or 'them'? When is it OK to not apply the commitments in a contract, ignore rights, and abandon responsibilities guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution? Are these related questions? They would be if you or I were having our 'habeas corpus' rights ignored. That is the legal guarantee of the right to a fair and speedy trial. It also provides the opportunity to face one's accusers and to know the charges, in a timely manner. Then again, this suspension of 'habeas corpus' has happened before. First, I believe, during the Civil War, next during World War II, and then again in the 90's, after the Oklahoma City bombing. Now in the War on Terror we see this again. Though, look at the legal traffic jam in our courts that has come as a result of this 'War on Terror'. It is global and longer than World War II. So, 'Torture' then resides in the event and in a time long after it has been conceived and planned. This, I feel and think, is the core component to addressing ‘torture’. It resides in us. We must have a tolerance of it for it to exist in our lives. We could support the existing techniques that the Legal Profession already has in use. Verbal interrogation with psychological implementation requires patience and precision. Are we willing to scale the challenge of attaining humanity in our society through our legal system? I hope so. Benjamin Franklin, wise beyond question, warned his contemporaries when he said, “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”(4). We have been warned. If only we will stop playing with Pinocchio and his friends on that island of fantasy and illusion. We are fitting into Ben's formula and appear in need of his warning. If we want fair treatment we have to give fair treatment. On February 10th of this year, the Beverly Hills Bar Association during the American Bar Associations' Midyear Meeting convened. There was a special panel that was presented discussing among other things, 'torture'. It was open to the public and it was free. Less than 100 people were present at this event. The A.B.A. sponsored this panel of top attorney's to discuss the topic - “DUE PROCESS AND THE “WAR ON TERRORISM” Memo to the Next President: - Where Do We Go From Here?” Each of the four panelists and one moderator had something compelling and important to say to whoever becomes the next President of the United States this coming November. The bottom line was each panelist legally restated something akin to the Golden Rule. They individually stressed the importance of supporting, and honoring, the Geneva Convention as a legal precedent and mandate in regards to 'torture'. The procedure of 'waterboarding' was of considerable concern to the panelists. They all addressed and discussed whether it should be considered 'torture', or not. What would you or I say after a session of ‘waterboarding’? Anything, maybe, after awhile. Only one Presidential candidate voted against it in the Senate on February 13th of is year. David Herszenhorn in his report in the New York Times stated that “Mr. McCain, a former prisoner of war, has consistently voiced opposition to waterboarding and other methods of the critics say is a form of torture.”(5) Did you know that? I sure didn't until I looked and searched a little. He is, unfortunately, the only Presidential Candidate to take a position against the sitting Administration. The A.B.A. attorneys on the panel seemed to all agree on this issue, though differing on other points in the discussion. Drowning is no painless event. I have almost drowned while surfing or 'longboarding' on many occasions. It is rather challenging to say the least. Look up a technical description of 'waterboarding' before going to bed some night, and see if you would talk about even nonsense if you were subjected to this treatment. Perhaps those who are suggesting this should step up first and hand over their rights, as an example of leadership. McCain wouldn't, you can be sure of that. Can't we get the other two to agree on this? I bet there is something I don't know or haven't asked here though. What do I know anyway? I am only an American Citizen that wants our country back from where it has been led astray. It has and can work to serve the people it was supposed to originally. I only can think of one thing to say. But Mark Twain already said it and he said it best when he said, “Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” (6). I know, how about let's act differently and astonish the world. |
Works Sited:
(1)– Historical Torture Museum website; - http://www.torturamuseum.com/preface5.html
(2)Miller, Greg. “Waterboarding is still an option”, (Front Page, above the fold); L.A. Times – February 7, 2008
(3)Madra, Ek. “Khmer Rouge
torture chief weeps at "Killing Fields””; Reuters - February 26, 2008; http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSBKK302380
(4)Franklin's Contributions to the Conference on February 17 (III) Fri, Feb
17, 1775; USHistory.org - (http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote04.htm)
(5)Herszenhorn, David M. “Senate Passes Interrogation Bill”; New York Times – February 13, 2008; http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/13/washington/13cnd-cong.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
(6)Twain, Mark - Quotationsbook - http://quotationsbook.com/search/quotes/?term=Always+do+right.+This+will+gratify+some+people+and+astonish+the+rest.