Do Americans Accept Torture?

Gas

Can you give an example?

In a poll conducted by Amnesty 29% of Britains believed that torture is sometimes necessary to protect the public while 70% where against with 56% strongly disagreeing that torture could be justified.

In the same poll 45% of Americans believed torture could be necessary

[Of countries surveyed China was up the top with 74% Greece at bottom with 12%]

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I think the UK figure for acceptance is way too high but its still not as bad as the US figure. Also our prison system is no way comparable to the US’s even so there are a number of British organization fighting for prisoner rights and reform, I couldn’t really find any for the US, [if anyone knows of any national US organizations please tell me].

Anyway this was much reported in the UK and widely discussed, mostly along the lines of it being too high and the corrosive effect on peoples attitudes of some TV programmes like 24 and homeland.

 

Obviously if your own family members were under threat you might buckle under the pressure. But the people who do the torture aren't in that situation. They are just employees of the state or their agents.
And the fact that under pressure you might go against your own conscience doesn't mean one should abandon one's values.

Laws are the way we regulate things - and there are laws and international treaties which cover the subject of torture.

 

Are you then saying that you would be willing to allow the use of torture to save your own family members, as long as those who performed it are prosecuted afterwards?

 

I'm saying that although I don't believe torture can ever be right, in such circumstances my views would be tested.

But really these kind of what if scenarios are loaded. Would you steal food from a child if you were starving? Hard to answer such questions until you're faced with the actual reality.

 

Its certainly not something I agree with or support...and find it rather disturbing it seems plenty of people are at least shrugging their shoulders if not outright supporting this disgusting behavior. Now I will have to laugh even harder when people refer to this as 'the greatest country in the world'....how so when we behave just as bad if not worse than other countries. And just look at how the police/government even treats its own citizens? I have seen people even defend police brutality against fellow citizens, so guess its no real surprise many would also be ok with torture.

 

The `what if' scenarios, do tend to show that there are situations where most people are willing to relax their absolute definitions of what is right or wrong. For example, while I feel it is wrong to take the life of another, I have no problem taking the life of someone who would take mine if I did not take theirs first. If you have served in the military, you might appreciate that. While I've said I do not promote the use of torture as a general means of obtaining information, there are cases where I believe it should be used.

Would I steal food from a child, or an adult for that matter, if I were starving? I can't think of a scenario where that would be my only means of obtaining food. I live near many lakes, rivers, and dense forests so there is abundant food available year round simply for the taking. I can walk outside the house and find enough vegetables growing wild to make a meal, loads of bamboo, fruits, and easily obtainable fish, shrimp, snails, and eels. At worst, I might have to without some spices or other seasoning, but I have made sure there will always be food to eat where I live.

You seemed to answer the question absolutely initially, but appear to be willing to change your mind ONLY if it would affect you directly. In other words to hell with the affect on others?

 

in this sub-grouping of Americans on Hip forums, you know there is disproportionate number who are anti-America and it's policies, so its kinda like ringing the bells on an ice cream truck, you know the little kiddies will come a runnin'.

I rest my case. :afro:

 

First of all, I dislike any thread that seems to be trying to pass some sort of judgment on ALL Americans. This is called bigotry.

Anyone who thinks the average rank and file American has any voice at all in these matters is deluded. The government doesn't put this sort of thing up to a vote. Somebody tell me what government does? While at that, please tell me which government in existence does NOT torture enemies.

To any who insist that "torture doesn't work" I would suggest that you have never been properly tortured. It doesn't have to be a scimitar-wielding jihadist or sunglass wearing CIA spook doing the torture. It can be a relative, neighborhood bully, crooked cop or psychopathic gym teacher doing it, but torture most certainly does get answers out of people. I'm not happy knowing this.

I'm also not happy with the idea that people outside of the US think that Americans are actually in control of the government. I'm very interested in knowing which nation's citizens really have that sort of control. Till then, taking cheap shots at the Americans en masse because of their government's abhorrent acts is pretty stupid. Americans are not in control of the country.

 

For the record, I liked your post for the second line.

 

Yeah sure... maybe not the truth, but an answer that will stop the torture...

 

If we knew what ground we stood on we would be. We think authority belongs to them. They only have guns. But a gun is powerless to change your mind although it can coerce you to act.
We have guns but don't know how to act. If we know how to act we wouldn't need to hire the mafia to protect the neighborhood. It looks like a shake down but it really just a chicken shit talking smack down. Are you afraid they will kill you? Who doesn't die. You should be more afraid to live the entirety of your life in abject terror.

My war on terrorism.

It is high noon folks

 

The fact remains that a lot of Americans are shrugging their shoulders at this torture report. Where's the outrage?

I blame (CIA sponsored?)TV shows like "24", "NCIS" and movies like "Zero dark thirty"

It's fucking sickening

 

"Where's the outrage?"

Are you sensing a lack of it? The press doesn't seem to agree. Or do you think Americans should pour into the streets over this? I'd wager most are too close to economic ruin to take such a risk. And most are likely under the impression that if the CIA can electrify the nads of a goat farmer in Afghanistan who happens to carry an AK-47 around, they could just as easily do it to any American who becomes vocal about the issue.

As to guns, they are more useful for eliminating individual problems than taking on a whole nation's army. And they have far more than guns. The US is rumored to STILL have nuclear landmines even though they were proven to be nearly useless.

And I need to be clear too that I fully believe that torture will reveal the truth from a person. Again, I am not happy knowing this. The only people who could carry a lie through REAL torture are already trained for it. For them time eventually betrays.

Bottom line though, who wants to poke a cougar with a stick? It's as stupid as fighting with a cop!