To Repukes: If you believe in "American Exceptionalism", then you should be against torture

[scheming daemons]

The best way to frame the debate for repukes is to put it in terms their reptilian brains can understand. They're upset about Obama "apologizing" for America. They repeat the "American Exceptionalism" canards all the time, saying things like "we need a President that believes America is the 'shining city on the hill'" and other such nationalistic claptrap.

I say... let's agree with them.


America is better than the WWII Japanese, we don't do "Bataan death marches".

America is better than the Viet-cong, we don't set up "Hanoi Hiltons".

America is better than Nazi Germany, we don't set up concentration camps and torture and kill those in them.

America is better than the muslim extremists, we don't capture and behead journalists just because they represent the other side.



It is precisely because we, as a nation, strive to be better that causes us to be outraged when we don't live up to the high bars we set for ourselves.

So... repukes... since you believe that America is inherently "better" than other nations because we've set up a better model for society... one where liberty is the cornerstone... then you too should be outraged when our leaders fail to live up to our high ideals.


On 9/12/2001, America had the moral high ground in the battle with muslim extremists.

In the seven years that followed, our leaders ceded that moral high ground by setting up our very own "Hanoi Hilton" at the southwestern edge of the island of Cuba.

"We're better than them"... or so you repukes say all the time.

Prove it.

Let's truly be better than them.

We're Americans. We don't torture.

[joeybee12]

1. American Exceptionalism is Fascism...end of discussion.

[scheming daemons]

4. .... the point is to reframe THEIR point of view...

in such a way that they GET IT that torture is wrong.


...and you need to look up the definition of "Fascism." It doesn't mean what you think it means.


Fascism (from Webster's):
"A political philosophy that exalts nation and race above the individual and that stands for centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition."



The concept of "American Exceptionalism" is equivalent to "Nationalism". It is *NOT* equivalent to "Fascism".

[Bluerthanblue]

2. if you are a human being you should be against torture-

there is no excuse.

none.

[scheming daemons]

5. Exactly.... which is why framing the debate on repuke terms helps them realize that...

deep down, THEY are against torture too.

[Winterblues]

3. Until Republicans actually begin to feel the outrage nothing will ever be done about it.

Americans are very Loyal. Loyal to the Brand as the old saying went. Republicans are Loyal to Republicans way more than Democrats but until every day Republicans become more Loyal to American than their Party these crimes will go unpunished.. And make no mistake about they are Crimes, and Crimes of the very highest order. Just because some in the Republican Party say waterboarding is legal doesn't make it so.