By the beginning of the 20th century the world was approaching a near
consensus (nearer than it ever had on almost anything) on the absolute
unacceptability of torture.
The Twentieth Century shattered that hope of consensus, but I can
remember that in the 1940s u.s. propaganda, movies, etc. focused on the
horrors of torture practiced by its enemies. The U.S. (officially) stood
tall on denouncing the use of torture. (Imperialist nations always
practice torture, so the U.S. was hypocritical, but it has been said
that hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virture.)
Now in the 21s century first the Bush Administration adopts torture as
national policy, and Congress (both DP & RP) goes along with it, though
there are shrieks of dismay from liberals.
Then the Liberal Hope, Obama says he will protect the murderers and
torturers and other willing thugs in the CIA, as well as those in high
places) against being held responsible for their crimes against
humanity. A writer dares to suggest that perhaps the u.s. ought to
pretend at least to be a decent nation, and that it is Obama's
responsibility to uphold some minimal standards of decency.
And some person who dares to call himself a "progressive" and argue what
"progressives" should do, announces to Pen-L that of course is
acceptable. He is cowardly, and hides that approval of torture under
the mask of rhetorical criticism (Blah Blah). It has become blah blah
now to speak up for humand ecency. So be it.
Carrol
^^^^^^^
CB: This has a sort of moralizing tone, no ?
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