Torture, why not?
First posted at my Vox.
I've been pretty angry this week. I shouldn't be angry. I have a good job that I really like (5 months so far and no complaints); I enjoy general good health and lots of friends; most importantly, my wife is soon to give birth to our first son. I have a lot to be happy about, but I am really terrified and sickened by our lack of character as a nation.
I guess I just should stop being scared and go with the flow. Apparently, torture is something Americans are ok with. Maybe it's actually the secret to the success of the ruling class in this country. I want to be at ease with my nation's policies and since I can't change them apparently, I'm gonna learn to love them
From now on, I'm going to try to talk about torture as much as I can, particularly when I talk to people I don't know. I think this is really going to help me move up in society. "Hey, nice to meet you! Sorry my hands are sweaty; I was just in the back holding my nephew in a stress position. I can't find my iPod and I'm pretty sure he knows where it is."
I look around at the people who apparently aren't upset about this. The people who, like kids who mix into the wrong crowds, slowly become an accomplice in activities they'd never concoct on their own. They seem to be doing pretty well. Look at the congress. 318 out of 415 are torture supporters. These people are sanctioning war crimes. They're all doing great, probably worth tons of money, and they have lots of power. Torture seems to be working for them.
Look at Dick Cheney and the people at the White House. They like torture and they have GREAT LIVES. Listen to this. Some guy named Jack Abramoff, whoever he is. He showed up at Cheney's office like 80 times. Cheney doesn't even have a fucking clue who the guy is right? Well this Jack dude, he's coming by and giving away all sorts of shit. He comes by one week with U2 tickets. Another week he's got the skybox for the Sweet 16. Why not the Super Bowl, or a trip to Hawaii or Vegas. Whatever you want. Now, since no one knows who this guy is, he's not trying to get anything from them. This is just because he likes them.
Good things happen to people who support the infliction of severe physical or psychological pain as an expression of cruelty on other human beings. These are people who like to kill captive animals, shoot their friends in the face, and still wake up on Sunday feeling holy, at one with god.
They're our supposed role models our direct representatives our neighbors our merchants our doctors our friends. We're surrounded by the supporters of torture. Largely, we are the supporters of torture.
So I'm gonna go with the flow. It's true, what they say about you can have whatever you wish for. You just gotta wish for what they want to give you.
I've been pretty angry this week. I shouldn't be angry. I have a good job that I really like (5 months so far and no complaints); I enjoy general good health and lots of friends; most importantly, my wife is soon to give birth to our first son. I have a lot to be happy about, but I am really terrified and sickened by our lack of character as a nation.
I guess I just should stop being scared and go with the flow. Apparently, torture is something Americans are ok with. Maybe it's actually the secret to the success of the ruling class in this country. I want to be at ease with my nation's policies and since I can't change them apparently, I'm gonna learn to love them
From now on, I'm going to try to talk about torture as much as I can, particularly when I talk to people I don't know. I think this is really going to help me move up in society. "Hey, nice to meet you! Sorry my hands are sweaty; I was just in the back holding my nephew in a stress position. I can't find my iPod and I'm pretty sure he knows where it is."
I look around at the people who apparently aren't upset about this. The people who, like kids who mix into the wrong crowds, slowly become an accomplice in activities they'd never concoct on their own. They seem to be doing pretty well. Look at the congress. 318 out of 415 are torture supporters. These people are sanctioning war crimes. They're all doing great, probably worth tons of money, and they have lots of power. Torture seems to be working for them.
Look at Dick Cheney and the people at the White House. They like torture and they have GREAT LIVES. Listen to this. Some guy named Jack Abramoff, whoever he is. He showed up at Cheney's office like 80 times. Cheney doesn't even have a fucking clue who the guy is right? Well this Jack dude, he's coming by and giving away all sorts of shit. He comes by one week with U2 tickets. Another week he's got the skybox for the Sweet 16. Why not the Super Bowl, or a trip to Hawaii or Vegas. Whatever you want. Now, since no one knows who this guy is, he's not trying to get anything from them. This is just because he likes them.
Good things happen to people who support the infliction of severe physical or psychological pain as an expression of cruelty on other human beings. These are people who like to kill captive animals, shoot their friends in the face, and still wake up on Sunday feeling holy, at one with god.
They're our supposed role models our direct representatives our neighbors our merchants our doctors our friends. We're surrounded by the supporters of torture. Largely, we are the supporters of torture.
So I'm gonna go with the flow. It's true, what they say about you can have whatever you wish for. You just gotta wish for what they want to give you.