If we as a nation now advocate torture, several scholars believe that by that act, Al Quada has effectively won the "War on Terrorism"- by degrading our core beliefs and using techniques that we abhor, and instead of taking the high-road of morality and belief in our own constitution, now believe that "the end justifies the means"-, which places us in the same category of those who we are fighting.
We already use torture throughout our own prison system, and it doesn't get much press, as Americans seem to have a blind eye when it comes to those who they believe have broken the law. The only problem with that is that the world's foremost democracy also incarcerates more people per capita, and possibly in actual numbers, than any country on earth! What has happened to our beliefs and morals? Are we so afraid of terrorists that we forget the principles that set us apart from dictatorships and authoritarian style governments throughout the world, and instead of adhering to our laws and beliefs, are in fact, becoming what we fear ourselves?
Remember who we are and what we stand for. The principles that our forefathers and family members died for in WWI and II were to preserve our belief in democracy and "The American Way of Life"-, and that doesn't include torture! You can argue that somehow we're safer because we allow Bush and company to torture our enemies, but like all atrocities, they always come home to roost, and if we're torturing terrorist suspects, you can bet it won't be long until those same techniques are used on Americans that have been charged with a crime - and will readily confess to something they may not have done - simply to stop the pain and fear of their lives. Some police departments use techniques that are similar to torture already, and if we don't stand-up for our values and the principles and traditions that made America one of the best countries in the world, the day will soon come when you find out it was your own son our daughter that was tortured - and then how will you feel? Outrage, anger, or shame because you advocated a principle that none of us in these great United States have condoned or used since the disease of the Neo-conservatives infected our society, and like radical Islam, it appears to be spreading like the cancer it is.
William Cormier
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