Does Torture Really Keep America Safe?

Does torture really keep America safe? Who actually believes that? Beyond the fact that torture of any human being is reprehensible and disgusting is the “belief” by Mr. Dick Cheney himself that the release of the “Torture Memo’s” will make our country less safe. It will piss off the terrorists and allow them to “train” for such events if they are ever captured. Is it any wonder the Bush administration lied about it for such a long time? Isn’t it easier to cast doubt and make it look like some sort of open conspiracy than to actually admit to something as sociopathic and psychotic as torture? Who are we? We have known that torture has been going on since around 2002, yet we have chosen to blindly believe what the past administration told us.

Mr. Bush is a born again Christian after all! He believes in the sanctity of life, preservation of marriage between a man and a woman, oh and lets not forget about the ban embryonic stem cell research. I guess people taken in for questioning against their will because someone somewhere had possible credible evidence that the person had some kind of knowledge about an incident involving some kind of group, and then tortured repeatedly and kept against their will and against our laws without proper representation or even being charged with something makes them less than human and therefore open to such treatment. Did you understand what I just said? Should people be taken into custody, held against their will, tortured for YEARS because they “might” know something? How does that keep us safe? I wonder how many men actually know NOTHING at all, and instead of admitting that they were taken in and kept against their will and releasing them, the government just keeps holding on to them. What could be worse than the prison releasing them and sending them back to their country? Well, what would be worse is if those innocent people went back and told their story and their government bringing charges against us. So lets just keep them imprisoned. There are a lot of people being held not only in this country, but around the world, and the thing most certainly forgotten is the fact that these men haven’t been convicted of anything. Everyone is afraid of closing down Gitmo because where will the detainees go? EXACTLY! Where do they go? We don’t even know if they are guilty of anything. We just keep holding on to them.

The thought of releasing them to possibly go back to their country and plan an attack on us strikes terror in so many and is a part of the conditioning that we have had about Muslims or Islam since 9/11 happened. Part of that conditioning has been the ability to fling the law behind the previous administrations back and keep people detained for years without representation and without being charge with a crime.

So how do Christians feel about all this? Do you believe that it is a means to an end? That a little evil is ok for the greater good? I have noticed that the Religious Right has been very quiet about it. Why? You’re vocal about abortion, which is the snuffing out of human life and in many cases actually torturous for unborn children to endure before they are killed…so is the torture of an innocent full grown man any different? And if he is guilty, does that make it more acceptable? I guess the much quoted bible verse “Love your enemies” means something else huh? Now don’t get high and mighty with me, I’m not saying that you would have to invite these people into your home for a spot of tea, but how about speaking up for those who have no voice right now? You do it for the unborn, so why not for the ethical and humane treatment of real live human beings? Even PETA has nothing to say about this. I guess the torture of animals is far worse than the torture of humans.

Torture does not make our country safe. What it does is erode the moral fiber of our country and turn us into sadistic people if we continue to support such things. Christians may say that abortion and gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research actually erodes the moral fiber, as does pornography or drugs, but I will leave you with a final thought-

What does it mean to be godly? Do we really know? To be like the most High God, what does it take? I was asked that once and I had to really sit and ponder it for a while before I answered. My answer to that question was simple. In order to be like the Most High God, you must first realize that others have free will. God does not prevent us from making mistakes or from living our lives. While some might say the answer is to hate sin, or not be a homosexual, to not have sex before marriage, to not lie or manipulate, I believe that it goes even deeper. Its hard to give others free will. We live in a land full of laws. But when do we allow free will to kick in? Another thing I have heard is “Love the sinner and hate the sin.” Such things are directed at us, not the other person. We are to love those who may sin AND not do that thing we call sin. It isn’t meant to prevent others from living their lives, it is meant to offer up our own free will to our Creator out of love for Him and at the same time, reflect that same love back to those we believe are “sinners.” Free will was given so that we may love our Creator freely…to make a choice to direct our hearts towards Him and abide with Him. If we do not offer the beautiful gift of free will to others, are we reflecting the Will of God or the will of ourselves yet standing behind the words of God concerning His thoughts on a matter?

I’m sure that I have opened up a theological can of worms, but I had to say it. I have been pretty silent when it comes to topic of religion, so there it is. Religion is such a deeply personal choice, but I’m really interested to know what Christians in particular feel about the subject of torture. Is it a sin to you? Do you condone it? Or maybe you will take the moral high ground and claim that it was the free will of Dick Cheney and George Bush to institute such tactics. To that, I say that while they have free will, they are not above the law, and as such, while they do have free will and used it, there are consequences according to the law. So should they face those consequences and be charged with war crimes? Part of morality is justice, so will justice be denied? I have far too many questions and of course my own ready opinion…what I want are your opinions. What are your thoughts?

Bound By Silence

Its been a while since I last wrote an entry, and I have so many things to say but I felt bound by a strange desire to stay silent and I can not for the life of me figure out why.

My heart is grieved by what I hear in the news, and my mind is cluttered with thoughts and images of events of the recent past.

As I was researching for my new article “Craigs List Trash or Treasure: The Naughty Edition” (still yet to be completed) I felt dirty and horrified by the depravity of some that would put themselves out there for the world to see and view. My original intention for wanting to write the article was to talk about prostitution and how some women were using Craigslist to sell their bodies just to pay the bills. What I found instead was nothing more than pornography in the “Personals” on Craigslist. I felt sorry for these people. Some showed their faces, others showed just genitals or other body parts and bodies in compromising positions. It was disturbing to my soul to see such loneliness and the absolute need to be touched or wanted sexually.

The following is from a married man:

muscular cum spurtter, clean ,discreet 4 u - m4w (alb general area)

Hey

Muscular easygoing discreet white horny male 5 11 190lbs small waist clean cut squeeky clean hung and very discreet. I am married need more fun. I can meet most weekdays and sometimes in an evening. Very open minded and approachable. Stamina of bull cum like a horse. Love to meet a cool down to earth clean female, any age or race, thin to hwp as a sex buddy or fwb. Regular hookups are way cool and I am not looking for a druggie, escort, web cam girl or any of that nonsense. I will not join another website. If you are cool and really looking for a safe fun muscular sex buddy, I am your guy. You will need to host or we can find a place. Married, single, divorce etc is all good. I am real, horny as hell and can put out a lot so put me to the test. Oral anal vanilla or fetish is cool. Very open minded here

I have pixs for girls that are really interested. Feel free to send one or two to me. You get my cell number then to. Ok with texting to start out but I am not a cyber guy so let’s hookup and have fun

Thanks

Richie

What is he thinking? What’s wrong with him? Listen up married women in the Albuquerque area, if this sounds like your husband I’d recommend searching through the Personals on Craigslist to see if this is your husband! Any woman or man that thinks their mate is cheating on them should regularly check the “Casual Encounter” section of your local Craigslist Personals!

In the same section of “Casual Encounters” I found an interesting ad…this one, to me sounds a lot like solicitation for prostitution, yet isn’t there a fine line between prostitution and paid pornography? Is there a difference? How come when a woman or man is filmed in a sex act and then compensated its called pornography, BUT if no camera is present its called prostitution? What is the difference…I’d really like to know! Here is the ad:

Are you eighteen? - m4w (hotel)

If so then i am currently looking for an eighteen to twenty something to do a photo and video shoot with (swimsuit, lingerie, etc.). Im looking for a petite to not much larger gal please. You must be comfortable in front of the camera, a positive attitude, and ready to have fun. Please no drugs, std’s, children, or friends. This will be a one on one private session with lots of teasing and foreplay, followed up by a passionate sexual climax. You will be compenstated for your time immediatley after the session. I am a 30 yr old buisness man who first and foremost always treats a lady like a lady.I am not into any kinky stuff and also abide by the following list of requirments. I will be coming into the albuquerque area starting on monday and look to have something booked soon. So if you are interested then please do not hesitate and send a consideration photo. I am extremely busy and will not be joining an other sites to chat, I truely hope that you understand. If you do not submite a photo then you will recieve no response. And lady please understand that there are still some good guys left.

These are just two examples of what can be found on Craigslist. Check it out in your area for yourself. At a later time I will complete my article for “The Naughty Edition” because right now, as I said earlier, my heart is overwhelmed by what I have been reading about and seeing on TV. Lately, it has been almost unbearable. Mothers murdering their children, a Sunday school teacher accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering her daughter’s friend, ridiculous GOP Tea Parties with older people crying out against socialism yet when they get home they will be waiting for that Social Security check to come in the mail. Pirates holding innocent people hostage for money…GOD! These last two weeks have been too much to bear for me.

I’ll find the words to capture my feelings on these topics, but for now I sit bound by this strange silence and my only request is that you bear with me. I don’t have writers block, that’s for sure. I’m holding back the temptation to sound off on what I see without actually having all the facts.

My heart is heavy, saddened by the world around me.

Bald Beauty of the Day