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How Can I Tell My Children the U.S. Doesn't Torture?


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A BUZZFLASH GUEST CONTRIBUTION
by Charleen Touchette

I am a mother of four. My children see the pictures of our young Americans torturing Iraqis. They hear our President say, "America does not torture." The Ten Commandments teach, "Thou shalt not kill," and "Thou shalt not lie." Yet my children see President Bush kill and lie everyday.
TouchArt

12 responses // How Can I Tell My Children the U.S. Doesn't Torture?

  • http://current.com/items/88817678_losing_a_daughter
    It's not easy to teach values that are counter to the majority. At least the majority in 2004's election. Hopefully things are changing. War is a difficult one to discuss. The Old Testament has plenty of war in it with holy figures such as King David leading the way but it also says, "Thou shall not kill." I try to let me daughter know in simple terms I think war is bad, fighting is bad, etc. I talk to her about voting and trying to pick leaders who are against war. I try to talk about great leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi who are examples of what I want to see. I try to deal with problems without anger and be a good example. It's hard but I try not to speak disrespectfully of our leaders because we want to respect our leaders like we want our children to respect us. They won't always agree with us either but we're in charge for better or worse. We're not perfect either. And at least we can try to elect new leaders... our kids are stuck with us. Thanks for this great discussion. This gives me a lot to think about.
    dbocaz
  • It is easy to speak of never lying and never being apart of killing when you are a simple person with no responsibility. If you had to kill an intruder in your home to save your children, would you? If you had to lie to keep your children from harm, would you? Being a world leader is similar. Hop off the bandwagon, and think about it. I'm not saying I condone all of our leaders' actions, but give it a little more thought.
    willyb
  • Not to nitpick, but isn't "Thou shalt not lie," not one of the ten commandments?
    Varex_Sythe
  • Did you forget Commandment #9 (#8 for Catholics) -
    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour?

    Are you implying that lying is okay?

    What about lying to make a false case to start a pre-emptive war and murder thousands and tens of thousands of human beings?

    What about forcing our soldiers to do things they know are wrong like sexually humiliating prisoners?

    What would Jesus who was tortured on the way to Golgotha think of that?

    We must act humane or we lose our moral ground and become worse than our enemies.

    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o124/TouchArt/Art%20...
    TouchArt
  • Point by point:

    Yes, sometimes lying is okay.

    You imply things about George Bush that no one has proven (reading about speculation doesn't count).

    George Bush asked soldiers to sexually humiliate prisonsers? Oh come on.

    Jesus would make the point that he was innocent and did nothing to provoke them. Then he'd point out that many people who are tortured for information are killers and terrorists whose information will save lives.

    I agree, but sometimes tough decisions need to be made, and sometimes it comes down to 'get them before they get me'. Maybe it never comes down to that in your nice suburban home, but in the real world of superpowers and dictators, it does.

    I mostly agree with you, except that the world isn't black and white.
    willyb
  • Torture is wrong, period.
    TouchArt
  • Dr. Martin Luther King III wrote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil - hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars - must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation."

    Remember - "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
    Turn it around.

    LOVE CAN DRIVE OUT HATE.
    LIGHT CAN OVERCOME DARKNESS.

    Love Unconditionally.
    Let yours and everybody else's Light Shine

    One tiny match can light a room.
    Ignite your Light.


    http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o124/TouchArt/MIXED%...
    TouchArt
  • The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality.

    — Dr. Martin Luther King
    TouchArt
  • You wanna tell your kids America doesn't torture people? Then you do what your government has done to us for the last 100 years and lie. Lie until your blue in the face, and eventually enough will believe it as truth.

    Or, we get up, march to Washington, beat the doors down and demand to be heard. All 300+ Million of us...
    lifestudentno83
  • "It is always time to do what is right."
    TouchArt
  • Wednesday, March 19th is the 5th year of the Iraq War.

    War must stop.

    Killing is obscene.

    Love unconditionally.
    TouchArt
  • Write or call your Senators and Representatives to Congress to vote to impeach GW Bush, Dick Cheney and crew for crimes against the Constitution, Americans and the world.
    Call today.
    Americans must hold these criminals responsible and bring them to justice or we will be a criminal rogue nation and go down in history for crimes of pre-emptive illegal war, torture and spying on its own citizens.

    Act today, so America's children will not have to hang their heads in shame for what we allowed to be done on our watch, with our money, in our name.
    TouchArt

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