Pictures of Torture

[khaosworks]

Yes, I've been hearing about the torture pictures. How could one not?

No, I'm not surprised, nor should anyone who knows about United States military history overseas. The Philippines. Haiti. Korea. Vietnam.

Imperialistic, paternalistic motives produce imperialistic attitudes. Great white hunter go tame natives, make monkeys dance.

To be fair, of course, I'm not saying that every American soldier in Iraq is doing this - the vast majority are probably fine, decent people. The roots, however, of this are cultural, and structural, and are built into the American psychological landscape. Most people simply aren't aware of it, or have conveniently forgotten. If you don't keep an eye on those demons, they're going to sneak up and sucker punch you.

Comments

[jost.livejournal.com]

The roots, however, of this are cultural, and structural, and are built into the American psychological landscape.

To be fair, this kind of behavior is hardly limited to Americans or the cultural aspects of Americans. This, my friend, is human nature. The fact that we're (collectively) appalled that this went on is a sign that the American psychological landscape is trying its best to overcome that human nature. I'm glad that the vast majority is shocked by this, as it is a sign that such behavior is not considered normal or acceptable and it is in fact shocking. I have no doubt that such horrific treatment of prisoners (or war and otherwise) goes on daily all over the world, but the fact that Americans do it shocks the majority of the American public does give me hope that we're either A) really trying to overcome the aspects of human nature that let us dehumanize prisoners or B) naive to a fault. Call me an optimist but I believe option A is the majority here; sure there's option B types but I think us As are in the lead.

[khaosworks.livejournal.com]

People have always been shocked, but it still continues. Americans were appalled at Brady's pictures of the Civil War, but wars continue to be waged. Americans were appalled at the news of My Lai, but atrocities continue to happen. People have completely forgotten about Haiti or the Philippines.

Sure, other nations have done this. The rape of Nanking by the Japanese Imperial Army, for example. The SAS have done much worse to its captives. What amuses me is that some Americans seem shocked that this could ever be done by Americans.