Human history is filled with stories of prisoners, every ounce of information being wrenched out of them, who were tortured still . . . because it amused their captors. From the torture chambers of the Inquisition to the scream-filled rooms operated by Central American dictatorships, the story is an old one.

People torture others not so much for whatever information they might glean, but because they well and truly enjoy it.

Advertisement

The torture groupies among us, who get such a thrill from the thought of people they hate being tortured, will in turn torture the English language, in an effort to make the gullible believe that what is happening in the rooms we should never see is just “enhanced interrogation,” and that this is the new normal, so get over it already.

There seem to be two camps in the “Torture is the New American Normal” debate. One, the professionals who have actually gotten information from suspects, dismiss the use of torture, and the torture groupies, those who enjoy sitting in front of cameras and flexing their patriotic muscles, all the while denying that torture is anything but torture.

Advertisement

There seems to be a sort of agreement in the media that the words “enhanced interrogation” will always be used, unless it is on the rare occasion when they interview a critic of torture.

Does the fact that torture is openly debated on TV, radio and in newspaper columns make us better than dictatorships which practice it, or creepier? At least those regimes had the good grace to deny that torture was ever taking place.

Advertisement

In this country, the torture groupies – and those in the government who lack the spine to stand up to them – are making the American people accomplices in their horrors.

So, are those who clamor water boarding – and whatever else might be in a torturer’s arsenal – actually interested in any information which might be gotten from a suspect, or are they so vengeance-driven that the punishment must begin now, even without resorting to a trial?

Advertisement

In the rare event that answers are forthcoming, would they be content to let the torture stop there, understanding what the suspect might be guilty of?

Again . . . Does the open debate on torture in this country make us better than those other countries which have engaged in it, or creepier?

Advertisement

Does it make us better as a people, , or a whole lot creepier?

******

Advertisement

Quote of the Day

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. – George Carlin

rsdrake@cox.net

Invest in the future of great journalism in Arkansas

Join the ranks of the 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts who know that the Arkansas Times is the go-to source for tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been on the front lines of the fight for truth, and with your support, we can do even more. By subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers and expand our coverage. Don't miss out on the opportunity to make a difference with your subscription or donation to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article The Mayflower oil spill continues to make headlines Next article Win a pair of tickets to see Brit Floyd at Verizon Arena