Martin Marty on Torture, Then + Now

Torture, including torture by Americans: Who could have predicted that this would be a live topic here in the twenty-first century? We know how to associate torture with the accused and accusing other, with Inquisitors and witch hunters five centuries ago, or with far-away twentieth century totalitarian regimes and religious terrorists. But today the theological, humanistic, and tactical themes connected with torture have appeared close to home, giving new significance to those distant times, places, and events.

Accordingly, a very distinguished historian, Princeton 's expert on the Renaissance, is speaking up. Not known for ideology or pamphleteering, Anthony Grafton takes pains not to oversell the relevance of his subjects. He favors patient historical work and writes in a moderate mode. Recently he looked up from his Renaissance research to see how things are going today. Alert to contemporary controversies and mildly allusive about events in America, he stops short of issuing indictments. Grafton seems to be writing in the haze of "where there's smoke there's fire," but clearly sees enough to issue cautionary words.

His article in the November 5th [2007] New Republic, entitled "Say Anything," refers to what he has learned from the transcripts of those Inquisitors and witch-hunters. He knows enough to say enough about the practical ineffectiveness of torture. Americans, we were always told, do not torture for a number of reasons: Torture violates our moral codes, including those based on religious notions that humans are made in the image of God; religious leadership is almost unanimously against torture, and America is a religious nation; for us to torture is to enter a dangerous game, since if we torture we have no moral claim to demand that "the other," our enemies, should not torture our people when they are captured; and we are a practical people and like to work with things that work. Grafton concentrates on this last piece, the ineffectiveness of torture.

The Tortured Logic of Our Times | Expecting More from Our Leaders

The release this week of George W. Bush's memoir directs us again to a series of conscious choices by which the U.S. government has wandered off into the tall grass with others who practice and rationalize torture.  [updated below]

It would be naive to argue that agents of this nation have not from time to time violated laws banning torture; but we have seldom approved and almost never framed those illegal acts as virtuous behavior. Now some of us do approve — not because torture "works" — I'm convinced the empirical evidence against that is settled — but because it feels good to know someone out there is willing to do anything to protect us — even things that do harm rather than good.

In this, former President Bush misled the American people into behavior we have rightly condemned in other nations, and the Congress of the United States gave him cover by passing the misguided Military Commissions Act of 2006.

In a comment on the passage of the Military Commissions Act I concluded:

In that singular change we have become what we declared unlawful and unacceptable in 1776, fought against until 1783 and carefully designed our Constitution to prevent in 1789. Our oppressors and enemies in that conflict followed us into the spirit of that new social covenant. The US Constititution changed the game.

Now this President and Congress have changed it back and 74 million Baby Boomers failed to stop them. This is what The Big Chill looks like.

It's time for a thaw. I think it's time to shake off the stiffness and invite the generations of voters behind us to join in prevailing on President Obama to complete the work started by his Executive Orders on Detention and Interrogation Policy, January 22, 2009. We can do better than we're doing.

[update 11.10.10 | Guardian UK: "British deny George Bush's claims that torture helped foil terror plots"]

Torture: Are You Convinced?

THE CALL FOR A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture

The United States must never again engage in torture. Torture is immoral, illegal and counterproductive. It causes profound and lasting harm, especially to its victims but also to its perpetrators. It contradicts our nation’s deepest values and corrupts the moral fabric of our society.

We call for an impartial, nonpartisan, and independent Commission of Inquiry. Its purpose should be to gather all the facts and make recommendations. It should ascertain the extent to which our interrogation practices have constituted torture and "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment". Understanding the causes, nature and scope of U.S.-sponsored torture is essential for preventing it in the future and eliminating it from our system without loopholes. U.S. law will determine the extent of any criminal culpability.

As people of faith, we know that brokenness can be healed – both in individual lives and in the life of the nation. All religions believe that redemption is possible. Learning the truth can set us on a path toward national healing and renewal.

A letter to Senator-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts

I know Senator-elect Brown has and will have a full plate the next few weeks before things get really busy. At a time when I expect Mr. Brown is hearing from a great many people who want more of one thing or another, I've written today asking for less...

Dear Senator-elect Brown

One of the issues you will be addressing in your new office is the treatment of US-held detainees. Joining other members of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, I urge you to carve out time to re-think your position on waterboarding and other “enhanced” interrogation techniques. I am convinced, as most Americans are, that these techniques constitute torture and are patently illegal. Further, as a person of faith, I believe torture is immoral and inexcusable.

Please sir, before you swear your oath before God and your fellow citizens, consider the moral values of this nation and your own spiritual beliefs and oppose the use of waterboarding and all interrogation techniques that you would call abusive, inhumane or a shock to the conscience if they were perpetrated on you, your family, or any American.

Sincerely,

Jim Hancock

For more on the case against torture by the US and US surrogates, see David Cole's remarkable piece in the January 14 issue of New York Review of Books. You can read it here.


[Senator-elect Brown photo by James Wellman]

Iraq Four Years On | In Search of Moral Footing

Moonlight Beach vigil | March 19, 2007

In a biblical rebuke of the US President and the 109th Congress, the board of Directors of the National Association of Evangelicals endorsed An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture.

If you consider yourself an Evangelical I hope you'll read the declaration, run it through your crap detector and join the conversation about regaining our moral footing.

If you don't consider yourself an Evangelical, I think you'll find it useful to see the case spelled out for (and by) people who claim to know what Evangelicals claim to know about the God of the Bible.