It really isn't in your best interest if you are trying to come across as objective and intelligent to put a video on your site that does not represent what really happened. I watched the press conference, and although he did blatantly lie when he said "we don't torture" it was not said in the way it is portrayed in that video. He said what was on that video in response to a follow-up question, not directly in response to the question you saw asked. I thought what he said was a despicable lie and I think it's insulting that we have to put up with that from our president, but it only hurts your cause when you don't represent the truth, and the author of this blog should have just put the entire video up and not this edited version.
According to the U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights, we aren't supposed to even torture noncitizens. If we torture, then how are we any better than terrorists?
It's correct that in my fictional scenario, the protagonist would be considered a scumbag. There's nothing wrong with using fiction to explore the hypothetical; the mistake mkoby makes is in assuming that in any story, the protagonist is going to be the paragon of virtue, to be emulated in every respect. The fact is, quite often the character is deeply flawed, and the reader is meant to recognize those flaws for what they are. The notion of "the good guy did it so it must be good to do" is absurd. (Since we're on the tangent anyway, the reader wasn't supposed to look kindly on Harry for using the torture curse, and it should be kept in mind that the character did so in burst of anger, not some calculated systematic way; neither is good, but one is more forgivable than the other.)Oh, and mkoby, still waiting on your list of those experts that have gleaned the science of torture into the exacting discipline you seem to think it once was.
The only person who is acting like a robot is you.I guess we all eventually turn into the thing we hate.Don't bother replying, I've already reproduced your answer: Chill out little DiggBott...TILT
He's quite right, WE don't torture, however, certain individuals employed by our government, sanctioned by our government do. I personally do not torture and I know many who also do not personally torture. I also don't lie on broadcast television. WE also don't lie. Unfortunately, many, to include this president, do.I, for one, do not clearly see how all of this rationalized "torture" (that we don't do) has improved matters much if at all.
And, one day perhaps soon, when the good of the many outweighs your own private and personal concerns and you lose house and home to "public interest", I'm certain that logic will comfort you then as well. When they come and take your sons and daughters away to fight and die in their holy crusade - really, there was no other way - it will comfort their mother.Once you begin to argue expediency over what is right, it really becomes easy to justify anything your vicious little mind can imagine. What rationale will they be using when they come for you? I'm certain it will be - "Well, it really was the only way. It couldn't be helped. Necessary evil."
As posted earlier in the comments above, read this New Yorker article ( <a class="user" href="http://tinyurl.com/2ao5bz">http://tinyurl.com/2ao5bz</a> ) and get a minor glimpse at the heinous and disgusting crimes being carried out by the US. (Not to excuse other offenders but few of them claim to be paragons of freedom and human rights). Then tell me again what you think torture means.
quaxonAug 10, 2007
the waits been over for a few years now buddy, we are in the process.
mattsoAug 10, 2007
It really isn't in your best interest if you are trying to come across as objective and intelligent to put a video on your site that does not represent what really happened. I watched the press conference, and although he did blatantly lie when he said "we don't torture" it was not said in the way it is portrayed in that video. He said what was on that video in response to a follow-up question, not directly in response to the question you saw asked. I thought what he said was a despicable lie and I think it's insulting that we have to put up with that from our president, but it only hurts your cause when you don't represent the truth, and the author of this blog should have just put the entire video up and not this edited version.
dudadAug 10, 2007
According to the U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights, we aren't supposed to even torture noncitizens. If we torture, then how are we any better than terrorists?
sweetmercuryAug 10, 2007
It's correct that in my fictional scenario, the protagonist would be considered a scumbag. There's nothing wrong with using fiction to explore the hypothetical; the mistake mkoby makes is in assuming that in any story, the protagonist is going to be the paragon of virtue, to be emulated in every respect. The fact is, quite often the character is deeply flawed, and the reader is meant to recognize those flaws for what they are. The notion of "the good guy did it so it must be good to do" is absurd. (Since we're on the tangent anyway, the reader wasn't supposed to look kindly on Harry for using the torture curse, and it should be kept in mind that the character did so in burst of anger, not some calculated systematic way; neither is good, but one is more forgivable than the other.)Oh, and mkoby, still waiting on your list of those experts that have gleaned the science of torture into the exacting discipline you seem to think it once was.
the6threplicantAug 10, 2007
The only person who is acting like a robot is you.I guess we all eventually turn into the thing we hate.Don't bother replying, I've already reproduced your answer: Chill out little DiggBott...TILT
Closed AccountAug 10, 2007
He's quite right, WE don't torture, however, certain individuals employed by our government, sanctioned by our government do. I personally do not torture and I know many who also do not personally torture. I also don't lie on broadcast television. WE also don't lie. Unfortunately, many, to include this president, do.I, for one, do not clearly see how all of this rationalized "torture" (that we don't do) has improved matters much if at all.
Closed AccountAug 10, 2007
And, one day perhaps soon, when the good of the many outweighs your own private and personal concerns and you lose house and home to "public interest", I'm certain that logic will comfort you then as well. When they come and take your sons and daughters away to fight and die in their holy crusade - really, there was no other way - it will comfort their mother.Once you begin to argue expediency over what is right, it really becomes easy to justify anything your vicious little mind can imagine. What rationale will they be using when they come for you? I'm certain it will be - "Well, it really was the only way. It couldn't be helped. Necessary evil."
immijAug 10, 2007
As posted earlier in the comments above, read this New Yorker article ( <a class="user" href="http://tinyurl.com/2ao5bz">http://tinyurl.com/2ao5bz</a> ) and get a minor glimpse at the heinous and disgusting crimes being carried out by the US. (Not to excuse other offenders but few of them claim to be paragons of freedom and human rights). Then tell me again what you think torture means.