Who would Jesus torture?
by George Phillies
Liberty For All
04/06/05
The Republican Party has sold itself body and soul to its Christian Right supporters. They pretend to be Christians but behold their deeds: (and for those of you speaking to Christians who view themselves as Republicans, I supply a few questions). Once upon a time, it was Americans who were rigorous in obeying the laws of war, and depraved foreign enemies who tortured prisoners. Under Republican leadership, it is Americans who torture...
http://www.libertyforall.net/2005/april17/torture.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
--------
Who would Jesus torture?
"Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse...."
(1 Peter 3:9).
From: "Sojourners" <sojourners@sojo.net>
»Click here to take action to reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»Click here to tell 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
President Bush says, "We don't torture," but his actions speak otherwise. He has threatened to veto bills that contain amendments sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would definitively ban torture by U.S. forces [1]. His vice president, Dick Cheney, has repeatedly pushed to exempt the CIA from McCain's bill. Cheney's tune hasn't changed in the four years since he said, "A lot of what needs to be done here will have to be done quietly, without any discussion, using sources and methods that are available to our intelligence agencies...so it's going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective" (emphasis added) [2].
Fortunately, other leaders are rejecting this administration's "any means" necessary mentality. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) has said: "I think the administration is making a terrible mistake in opposing John McCain's amendment on detainees and torture." [3]
»Take action to reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»If you've already taken action, click here to forward this to 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
We agree with Sen. Hagel, 45 other Republicans, and 44 Democrats who approved Sen. McCain's amendment to ban torture. Yet Vice President Cheney is still trying to convince Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and leaders in the House to oppose this measure. Speaker Hastert has the power to stand up to the Bush administration, but he is currently using a procedural loophole to block a vote on the McCain amendment in the House. As a graduate of evangelical Wheaton College, Speaker Hastert must hear from you that people of faith will not stand by when torture is tolerated. Remind him that the scriptures tell us, "Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse.... " (1 Peter 3:9).
»Tell Speaker Hastert that we must reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
This is not a Left-Right issue. This is not an argument between pacifists and believers in just war. Soldiers in the field are demanding clarity and accountability from their leaders. Captain Ian Fishback of the 82nd Airborne Division has powerfully borne witness to the crisis at hand:
While I served in the Global War on Terror, the actions and statements of my leadership led me to believe that United States policy did not require application of the Geneva Conventions in Afghanistan or Iraq.... Despite my efforts, I have been unable to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what constitutes lawful and humane treatment of detainees. I am certain that this confusion contributed to a wide range of abuses including death threats, beatings, broken bones, murder, exposure to elements, extreme forced physical exertion, hostage-taking, stripping, sleep deprivation, and degrading treatment. I and troops under my command witnessed some of these abuses in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
... Some argue that since our actions are not as horrifying as Al Qaeda's, we should not be concerned. When did Al Qaeda become any type of standard by which we measure the morality of the United States? We are America, and our actions should be held to a higher standard, the ideals expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Others argue that clear standards will limit the President's ability to wage the War on Terror. Since clear standards only limit interrogation techniques, it is reasonable for me to assume that supporters of this argument desire to use coercion to acquire information from detainees. This is morally inconsistent with the Constitution and justice in war. It is unacceptable.[4]
We agree with Captain Fishback that torture is morally unacceptable. Cruel and inhumane treatment of any human being is not justified under any circumstances. As Christians who believe in the fundamental dignity of the human person and as Americans who don't wish to see our image abroad further tarnished, we call on our legislators to pass McCain's measure. As a matter of conscience and national honor, it's time to take action and tell your friends:
»Tell Speaker Hastert that we must reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»If you've already taken action, click here to forward this to 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
Thank you for taking action!
Peace,
The staff at Sojourners
[1] Bush Declares: 'We Do Not Torture'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/07/AR2005110700521.html
[2] The Vice President appears on Meet the Press with Tim Russert
http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/news-speeches/speeches/vp20010916.html
[3] GOP Senator Criticizes White House Torture Stance
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/06/congress.detainees.ap/
[4] A Matter of Honor
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701527.html
Liberty For All
04/06/05
The Republican Party has sold itself body and soul to its Christian Right supporters. They pretend to be Christians but behold their deeds: (and for those of you speaking to Christians who view themselves as Republicans, I supply a few questions). Once upon a time, it was Americans who were rigorous in obeying the laws of war, and depraved foreign enemies who tortured prisoners. Under Republican leadership, it is Americans who torture...
http://www.libertyforall.net/2005/april17/torture.html
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
--------
Who would Jesus torture?
"Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse...."
(1 Peter 3:9).
From: "Sojourners" <sojourners@sojo.net>
»Click here to take action to reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»Click here to tell 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
President Bush says, "We don't torture," but his actions speak otherwise. He has threatened to veto bills that contain amendments sponsored by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would definitively ban torture by U.S. forces [1]. His vice president, Dick Cheney, has repeatedly pushed to exempt the CIA from McCain's bill. Cheney's tune hasn't changed in the four years since he said, "A lot of what needs to be done here will have to be done quietly, without any discussion, using sources and methods that are available to our intelligence agencies...so it's going to be vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective" (emphasis added) [2].
Fortunately, other leaders are rejecting this administration's "any means" necessary mentality. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) has said: "I think the administration is making a terrible mistake in opposing John McCain's amendment on detainees and torture." [3]
»Take action to reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»If you've already taken action, click here to forward this to 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
We agree with Sen. Hagel, 45 other Republicans, and 44 Democrats who approved Sen. McCain's amendment to ban torture. Yet Vice President Cheney is still trying to convince Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and leaders in the House to oppose this measure. Speaker Hastert has the power to stand up to the Bush administration, but he is currently using a procedural loophole to block a vote on the McCain amendment in the House. As a graduate of evangelical Wheaton College, Speaker Hastert must hear from you that people of faith will not stand by when torture is tolerated. Remind him that the scriptures tell us, "Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse.... " (1 Peter 3:9).
»Tell Speaker Hastert that we must reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
This is not a Left-Right issue. This is not an argument between pacifists and believers in just war. Soldiers in the field are demanding clarity and accountability from their leaders. Captain Ian Fishback of the 82nd Airborne Division has powerfully borne witness to the crisis at hand:
While I served in the Global War on Terror, the actions and statements of my leadership led me to believe that United States policy did not require application of the Geneva Conventions in Afghanistan or Iraq.... Despite my efforts, I have been unable to get clear, consistent answers from my leadership about what constitutes lawful and humane treatment of detainees. I am certain that this confusion contributed to a wide range of abuses including death threats, beatings, broken bones, murder, exposure to elements, extreme forced physical exertion, hostage-taking, stripping, sleep deprivation, and degrading treatment. I and troops under my command witnessed some of these abuses in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
... Some argue that since our actions are not as horrifying as Al Qaeda's, we should not be concerned. When did Al Qaeda become any type of standard by which we measure the morality of the United States? We are America, and our actions should be held to a higher standard, the ideals expressed in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Others argue that clear standards will limit the President's ability to wage the War on Terror. Since clear standards only limit interrogation techniques, it is reasonable for me to assume that supporters of this argument desire to use coercion to acquire information from detainees. This is morally inconsistent with the Constitution and justice in war. It is unacceptable.[4]
We agree with Captain Fishback that torture is morally unacceptable. Cruel and inhumane treatment of any human being is not justified under any circumstances. As Christians who believe in the fundamental dignity of the human person and as Americans who don't wish to see our image abroad further tarnished, we call on our legislators to pass McCain's measure. As a matter of conscience and national honor, it's time to take action and tell your friends:
»Tell Speaker Hastert that we must reject torture, no exceptions.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/8uiigw425t8ee8?
»If you've already taken action, click here to forward this to 10 friends.
http://go.sojo.net/campaign/wwjt/forward/8uiigw425t8ee8?
Thank you for taking action!
Peace,
The staff at Sojourners
[1] Bush Declares: 'We Do Not Torture'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/07/AR2005110700521.html
[2] The Vice President appears on Meet the Press with Tim Russert
http://www.whitehouse.gov/vicepresident/news-speeches/speeches/vp20010916.html
[3] GOP Senator Criticizes White House Torture Stance
http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/06/congress.detainees.ap/
[4] A Matter of Honor
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/27/AR2005092701527.html
Starmail - 6. Apr, 10:48
