Posts Tagged ‘Torture’

Earlier this week, Glenn Beck outlined on his show, his belief that America is slowly turning into Nazi Germany. To help illustrate his point, Beck shows Nazi propaganda that was once used to create an feeling of apathy towards the disabled. Now, maybe I am confused as to the definition of propaganda, but isn’t Beck using Nazi propaganda to push forward his agenda, to scare his audience into believing that if you are not a member of the dissenting party then you are no better than a German living during the days of the Third Reich?

As support for his outrageous claims, Beck cites that the weakness of the Dollar is reminiscent of the collapse of the Mark, which ultimately ushered Germany into the Great Depression. While it is true that the Dollar is at its weakest in generations, I ask you who was the party of power during its collapse? And does Beck not comprehend the perfect storm of circumstance that allowed the Nazi party to assume power? The hyperinflation of the Mark ceased in 1923, yet the Nazi party did not assume power over the country for another ten years. The collapse of the Mark was not the sole reason behind the Nazi’s rise to power.
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The recent debate over the use of torture while gathering intelligence during CIA interrogations to me is a farce. While one may argue that the ends justify the means, I ask you to view the situation from the other side. How would you feel if American soldiers, who were captured in the middle of a war, were subjected to similar interrogation techniques? We would be appalled… It is a double standard.

As Americans we pride ourselves as a country that promotes freedom. Part of the Bush Doctrine promotes the spreading of freedom and democracy in countries who do not currently share those beliefs. How can we be taken seriously when our actions contradict our words? Shepherd Smith of Fox News recently said it best, “We are America! We do not fucking torture!” We cannot have it both ways.

This country has an image problem abroad. We need to realize that as one of the most influential countries in the world, our actions are scrutinized and used as propaganda against us. We need to live by the example, otherwise we are no different than those who we deem the enemy.