The Depths to Which Humans Can Sink

Once again John Davis of Athens, AL has an opinion published in the Sunday Birmingham News. Good job, John...this time he's writing about torture. He explores a common theme that is debated frequently, whether torture works or not. But more revealing are his thoughts about what inflicting torture does to the torturer.

He references how the American interrogators "broke" the Nazi generals and scientists without using any controversial techniques.

He quotes the Washington Post which quoted 90 year old Henry Kolm: "We got more information out of a German general with a game of chess or Ping-Pong than they do today, with their torture."

Another interrogator, 87 year George Frenkel, said , "I'm proud to say I never compromised my humanity." Davis then goes on to describe the difficulties that people who torture have throughout their lives. They become sociopaths, alcoholics and drug users to hide their pain.

And we have a nominee for attorney general who does not "know" if waterboarding is torture. What this really means is...in his heart he knows it is torture (anyone would know this) but he has not been told by George Bush (Dick Cheney) how to answer the question.

Those who inflict torture (and those who order it) sell their soul to Satan, and for what? Nothing...because the techniques do not work. All the while ignoring methods that could use their minds and their intelligence, not their brawn. What ever respect the United States still has in the world is further diminshed whenever Bush - Cheney proxy torture is considered. When the United States inflicts torture, the president should be held accountable (my thoughts, not John's).

For further information, read John's editorial.

And to further explore the depravity of humans inflicting pain on others, read about the infamous Milgram study, which showed how human beings might act in the presence of an authority figure (such as an educator...or a president) urging them on.

We (the human race) need to act in ways that lift one another, and the entire species, up. It is so easy to sink to the lows that would allow one to inflict pain or torture on another human being...when you have lost your conscience. But our souls tell us this is wrong. If Michael Mukasey is confirmed as attorney general, we admit that we among the worst the world has ever seen. That can be, should be, prevented (now), or corrected (in 2008).

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I was really surprised when I discovered this camellia blooming this weekend. I am not sure this one has bloomed since I have been here. We have several different camellias and there will be blooms of one or more from now until March.