Is the public becoming desensitized to the idea of torture? I fear they are.

[armyowalgreens]

It began as arguments that certain methods were or were not torture. But now I'm noticing more people arguing that it doesn't matter that it was torture. I've already spoken to at least 3 people who believe that we should be able to torture anyone if we think they hold "crucial" information.

Even though that is a completely illogical and heartless stance to take, I fear that it is a stance that is growing in popularity.

Have we "flooded the market" with torture so that now people have become indifferent to the concept? I pray it isn't to late.

If so, is there anyway to fix the situation or is this an unavoidable path we are headed down?

[Demit]

1. At least three people, huh?

That would be some margin of error, I fear.

[armyowalgreens]

2. I have spoken to very few people about torture.

And the idea that torture is okay is extreme enough to consider any amount of supporters a bad sign.

[Stephanie]

3. The talking heads have dropped the euphemisms

Now they're outright arguing that "torture works." A few weeks ago they were delicately calling it enhanced interrogation.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. I agree.

I'm not part of the "Blame Hollywood First" crowd, but I will point to the torture porn, such as Hostel, Saw, etc. People pay to watch people tortured. Now, to some degree, we can say that about any slasher flick, but it seems that there is something more gruesome about these recent films, something much more intimate with the pain and torture. It contributes to the desentization of society. Yes, there has always been torture, but it seemed we, as a society, were breaking from that mindset. It appears that I was wrong.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. It is not that it is growing in popularity - it is just becoming the last

possible argument.

First it was "We don't torture" because it is commonly acknowledged that torture is wrong.

Then, it was "THIS is not torture" because, again, torture is wrong but we did do THIS.

Now they are reduced to the unsupportable "Torture is not wrong" because their favorite authority figures DID do THIS and THIS IS torture. They have nowhere else to go, other than "We DID torture and those who ordered it should be punished.

And THAT is where it will end.

[sandnsea]

6. I always figured we did torture

or would in very select situations. Not routinely, like Bush/Cheney implemented, or the secret prisons all over the world, or anything like that. But that rare hypothetical ticking bomb, if everything had been tried, then yes I figured we'd resort to torture and then deny that it had been authorized. Legal systematic torture? That's what's wild. What do people think "cruel and unusual" means? Is there any part of the Constitution they didn't trash?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I love the short memory of the US... we did (thought proxies) use systematic

torture in Central America

So what if Agent Mike didn't dirty his hands personally and was just done by his students from Battalion 100?

Since it was swept under the rug by Clinton in the name of Empire, just like Obama will do right now... people forgot...

Americans have the shortest memory ever.

[annm4peace]

7. We need to shame the American people

Friday, 3 of us with two large banners protested at the side door of the Cathedral of St. Paul (Minnesota) where St. Thomas University was holding the Commencement Mass for it's graduates.

It was just 3 of us, deciding to do this that day.

Roberty Delahuntey co-authored the torture memo's with John Yoo, and Delahuntey is a Professor at St Thomas University (a Catholic University).

Yep, St. Thomas has continued to allow a lawyer who wrote that is ok to torture, to teach law at their Christian University.

I held copies of the front page of the torture memo with Delahuntey's name and shouted out
"would like a copy of the 1st page of the torture memo that St. Thomas Law professor, Delahunty, wrote that is ok to torture" I said this repeatedly and loud, as the families, priests, professors, nuns, etc.. walked passed us. I also said "Jesus was also torture, before he was put on the cross".. gave them something to think about as they sat in the Cathedral looking at Christ hanging on the cross.

a group "Tackle Torture at the Top" a group of people, including some who are alumni of St. Thomas,, and some also Veterans, and some are nuns who know sisters who were tortured in Central and South America.. have been protesting at St. Thomas since 2003.

[ingac70]

8. The only folks I know that think it is ok....

are diehard, pretend to be Christian Repukes.

Only sociopaths think torture is acceptable.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. It IS illegal no matter what they think

I actually pointed this out to a very shocked conservative I tell you

he is all for law and order... so I pointed this out. This is illegal under US Law, even cited the 1997 law... that had him going, but, but, but.

Are you for law and order or not?

That killed it.

So say it after me. IT IS ILEGAL... yes, it is that simple. Why do you think the press is not drumming this? IT IS ILEGAL!!!!!!!!

[lbrtbell]

10. I think the timing is the problem

We've got so many millions of Americans worried about where their next meal is coming from, plus other "kitchen table issues" like health care, that people aren't able to pay as much attention to foreign policy issues as they used to be.

Sometimes, I wonder if GWB ran our economy into the ground for that very reason. To make us all so desperate to survive, so busy trying to eke out a living, that we don't have the time to pressure our elected officials into prosecuting Bush/Cheney/etc. for their war crimes.

[Dramarama]

12. Very true.

I also remember in my junior year, ( 2006) we studied this alot and now it seems to me that it just won't change. I think that's the pattern of thinking most of the public gets into.