Terror, Torture & Time

When a person self harms it is a physical act of destruction on his body which represents the mental destruction happening and the cry for the anguish to stop.  The pain is sometimes welcomed; the pain sometimes awakens him from a numbness and vacancy.  It is destructive.  It is riddled with guilt.  It is horrible.

When a person from the CIA tortures another human being it is a physical act of destruction which represents the moral implosion of society.  The pain is welcomed by the pain-giver; the torturer is awakened to his own sadistic capabilities.  The torturer steps across a line he can never return from. It is a dark place.

Unfortunately we, the human race, have always done disgusting things to each other and we will most likely carry on doing barbaric acts.  It's right to denounce and it's right to beg for such things to stop.  We're destructive enough.  What I found disturbing though, and wondered how far we have truly evolved, was watching the interview with the former Director of the CIA.  He was a callous son-of-a-bitch.  He could spout all the propaganda he wanted about torture being an effective interrogation tool.  He could argue torture saved thousands of lives.  He could argue the benefits of rectal feeding all night but he was disturbing because he spoke with such aloof arrogance it was almost as if he was inconvenienced for having to answer questions at all.

Whatever the arguments for and against torture may be there are men and women scattered around the world who have been mentally and physically abused, degraded and scarred.  They have been subjected to horror regardless of their 'guilt' or 'innocence.' There are also men and women scattered round the world who committed these acts and may have entered a place of darkness where self-destruct is only a heartbeat away.

Time doesn't always heal.

Time sometimes magnifies pain.

Let's hope we can become a people who don't leave a mark of destruction on history but one of healing.

Peace.   x

Here's the interview: