Wednesday, May 27, 2009

What is torture?

I watched a video in which a journalist bet that he could withstand waterboarding for 15 seconds. The person who was going to administer the "test" was covered so you could not see his face. He explained to the journalist that he WOULD NOT be able to last that long. The journalist was strapped to a board with his head slightly down and feet a little higher. He was given an object to drop on the floor to stop the test.

Then the waterboarding began.

The journalist dropped the object within about 5 seconds! He then explained how he could not breathe because the water was going up his nose. He stated that his brain was telling his body to breath and that his heart was racing incredibly. THIS WAS AFTER ABOUT 5 SECONDS.

If I remember correctly, the man administering the "test" did not think waterboarding was torture. Are you kidding? Someone please tell me what torture is if this is not torture.

This is like saying only the Japanese tortured people during WW2 but we didn't. Yeah. Right. Or that only the North Vietnamese committed terrible atrocities during the Vietnam fiasco. We, Americans, only went over there to "help" these people who could not help themselves.

Don't misunderstand me. I don't condone torture no matter what side of the flag you are on. If my telling you something, even a lie, is going to stop the torture, I may just tell you something.

Man's inhumanity to man. Unbelievable the lengths we humans will go to in the name of justice, religion, etc.

Hurts, Doesn't It?

There seems to be a lot of talk about Sonia Sotomayor's decision against the White firefighters. Discrimination is a b@#$, isn't it? There is also noise about her statement that a Latina woman might make a different decision than a White man.

African Americans (Hispanics, etc.) have suffered discrimination for decades and decades. So now, you (White firefighters, Joe the plumber, etc) know how that feels.

As for the second statement, she was talking about her experiences and how they would relate to decisions she might make, if I understand her statement correctly. As an African American woman, who grew up in Harlem and North Carolina during the sit-ins, busrides for freedom, the murder of Emmet Til, the murders of King, the Kennedys, etc., I certainly would have a different slant on things than a white man who grew up in Long Island where Blacks could be servants but could not go to the country clubs. If I were a judge, however, I would have to follow the law and not just my feelings.

So for the Rush Limbaughs and the other dipsticks, give it a rest! If Sotomayor were a white male, you would not have anything to say - and you know it. This is so blatant, it's pathetic. We can see who the real racists are!

Supreme Choice

Glad the Pres selected a Latina woman as nomination for the Supreme Court. And from the Boogie Down Bronx! (Only New Yorkers, past or present can appreciate that point.) All the naysayers might as well go sit down. A Black president and Latina woman on the highest court in the land. GO TEAM!!!!

Thanks

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who read my blogs on a regular. I do appreciate it. Keep reading and feel free to respond.

Thanks