I just watched a news program where torture was the topic of discussion. The CIA type answering questions said it was effective, and the people being tortured weren't Americans so it didn't matter. WRONG.
The question isn't whether torture is effective. It might be. It might produce the best results in the shortest amount of time. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER.
The question isn't whether torture is effective; it's whether it's the right thing to do, under any circumstance. And the answer is a resounding NO. It is never the right thing to do. It is a terrible action under all circumstances. You may still choose to do it -- people choose to do bad things all the time. But you also choose to accept the consequences of doing this wrong action.
Torture does not have a place in a civilized nation. Period. No question.
2 comments:
What's your take on tactical assassination? (As if I didn't already know.)
Well, I think it's murder, even if you give it another name. One of the things about ethics, is that you can always choose to do the wrong thing. The key is to be aware that it is the wrong thing, and that by doing it, you understand the consequences.
I.E., if someone harmed me and mine, I'd have no problem doing the wrong thing, even if I knew full well that I would bear the penalty for that action.
The world is messy. You can't always have the luxury of perfect behavior. But know full well the results of doing the wrong thing.
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