Senator John McCain is right. We should renounce all forms of torture and should abide by the Geneva Convention . . . as a nation. If we are to ever become the "shiny city on the hill" that President Reagan wanted us to be, we must renounce torture and once again embrace.the Geneva Convention . . as a nation.
However, in the wildly unrealistic situation that I am holding the hostage who has the code to prevent an explosion killing Americans in one hour, I would immediately begin severing fingers, toes, and all other appendages until I get that code. Afterwards, I would throw myself on the mercy of the court, because serving time in prison is a cheap price for serving my country . . . as an individual.
Sometimes, what is wrong for a country is justifiable for an individual. The Chinese argue that Americans suffer from the "cult of the individual," placing the good of the individual above the good of many. I would argue with them . . . not always.
However, in the wildly unrealistic situation that I am holding the hostage who has the code to prevent an explosion killing Americans in one hour, I would immediately begin severing fingers, toes, and all other appendages until I get that code. Afterwards, I would throw myself on the mercy of the court, because serving time in prison is a cheap price for serving my country . . . as an individual.
Sometimes, what is wrong for a country is justifiable for an individual. The Chinese argue that Americans suffer from the "cult of the individual," placing the good of the individual above the good of many. I would argue with them . . . not always.
