November 8, 2007
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Should torture be an acceptable method of gaining military intelligence?
I’m trying to think if I’ve ever been tortured. I don’t think I have, but my parents did believe in spanking and that is considered by some to be inhumane (though admittedly far from torture). As one study points out, “those who were spanked ‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ as children were more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol or develop a psychiatric illness” (link). Yet Dr. Robert Needlman from drspock.com argues that spanking has little effect for good or bad. “Most of the research does not show that spanking, by itself, has a big effect on child outcomes” (link).
When I was spanked growing up I sometimes remember feeling angry afterwards, though it may have also inspired some humility in me. I’m wondering if torture, like spanking, only inspires more resent, or if it actually does produce positive results? I tend to agree with the former conclusion, though I know that emotions tend to rule the day, for better or worse, in the dark shadow of unimagined terror threats.
Were you spanked growing up?
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Comments (9)
The fact that this question even needs to be asked in the United States of America makes me want to live on an iceberg.
torture is totally wrong. i don’t believe we should ever stoop to that level. I couldn’t dehumanize someone in the ways that we have done. torture can involve many things. prisoners of war had to flush the koran down the toilet, piss on it, etc… Torture has included more than waterboarding. it has included sexual abuse, physical abuse, and other pretty horrible stuff. i could never justify doing that to anyone. ANYONE.
Yep, I was spanked as a kid. I think it just produced fear and anger. Kind of a short-cut in parenting…to inspire quick (but insincere) obedience. My younger siblings hardly ever get spanked (unless there is a dangerous behavioral pattern that requires rapid change…).
Torture? Absolutely not. I firmly believe it is evil. I won’t get into it now. It will just make me angry.
Thanks for your comment on my post about Love and Judgement. In the middle I was trying to take the bible verses that say “Love is patient, love is kind, etc…” and create a person who embodied all of these qualities. I don’t think I’m a very good writer, but I figured I’d try to explain the part you thought was confusing. Thanks for stopping by!
The times I was spanked were for good reasons and I was too young to understand any other way at the time but it did produce results. Now I understand. If a prisoner knows something that will save our men’s lives he needs to be convinced somehow to hand it over. However, I do think there are lines that should not be crossed.
I was spanked but I was never beat.
It made me realize what I had done was wrong.
However, I don’t think I will spank my children.
spanked,, yes,
torture.. hmm,, i think there is a fine line
that should never be crossed,
it’s even hard to see the line some times,
(i know that answer sux)
*~matthew~*
I miss you, Peter Kruse.
New Job!
Just dropping by to say I hope you are doing well.
You and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
(my comment would not process on the above message. I’m trying again here.)