No joke, I'm watching an episode of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars television show about a weaponized virus.
There's a comment on the tip of my tongue, but I'm not sure what it is. So in lieu of brilliant insight, I'm just reporting because it struck me as somehow odd.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
On Torture
In the interest of consistent treatment of people under the law (you know, rule of law, all that legal nonsense), I really want to see someone (lots of someones, really) taken to court for actions conducted in prisons under U.S. control. Whether you think it constitutes "torture" or not, or whether you think the ends justify the means or not, the actions described by the memos (here is the link I have readily available; it's an op-ed piece which I happen to agree with, but it also contains links to the relevant memos) which the Obama administration recently released to the public are illegal under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (...this part is important, especially if you think that their actions did not constitute torture).
For those who are unconvinced check out the Coles Notes version on Wikipedia or the actual text of the Convention.
The United States (government, populace and everyone in between) needs to take those responsible (in my opinion, everyone responsible) to task. If another country did what the United States has admitted to, you can be damn sure the U.S. would insist charges be laid against those who committed, ordered or let happen these acts. Those charged would almost certainly be convicted too - likely of the death penalty - if history is any indication. So if it's illegal, and if anyone and everyone else who acted in such a way would be charged, those in the U.S. should be charged too.
Emotionally, I can understand the justifications for torture ("and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment") but logically it does not stand up to muster. It cannot. Unless we all want to be subject to torture ("and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment"). I posit that we do not. I think we all want this convention to stay in effect. Whether the ends are justified, the means are not. They cannot be. And I, for one, don't want them to be.
Anyways, long story short, I want to do something about this whole mess. I would like to get involved. But I feel like I live in the wrong country to do something about it. Unless...
Canada is a signatory to the Convention Against Torture, etc. As a signatory we should insist that we, and other nations are compliant to that convention. Is it unreasonable to suggest that we should let the United States know that we demand they do something about their breach of that convention? Is it not all of our responsibility to make sure that our national and international laws are upheld?
Thoughts on getting involved? Or should I just shut up and let the United States sort their own shit out?
For those who are unconvinced check out the Coles Notes version on Wikipedia or the actual text of the Convention.
The United States (government, populace and everyone in between) needs to take those responsible (in my opinion, everyone responsible) to task. If another country did what the United States has admitted to, you can be damn sure the U.S. would insist charges be laid against those who committed, ordered or let happen these acts. Those charged would almost certainly be convicted too - likely of the death penalty - if history is any indication. So if it's illegal, and if anyone and everyone else who acted in such a way would be charged, those in the U.S. should be charged too.
Emotionally, I can understand the justifications for torture ("and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment") but logically it does not stand up to muster. It cannot. Unless we all want to be subject to torture ("and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment"). I posit that we do not. I think we all want this convention to stay in effect. Whether the ends are justified, the means are not. They cannot be. And I, for one, don't want them to be.
Anyways, long story short, I want to do something about this whole mess. I would like to get involved. But I feel like I live in the wrong country to do something about it. Unless...
Canada is a signatory to the Convention Against Torture, etc. As a signatory we should insist that we, and other nations are compliant to that convention. Is it unreasonable to suggest that we should let the United States know that we demand they do something about their breach of that convention? Is it not all of our responsibility to make sure that our national and international laws are upheld?
Thoughts on getting involved? Or should I just shut up and let the United States sort their own shit out?
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