Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Good Lord, people, I am so tired. I just got done with doing a performance of Opera Cinema: Carmen (which, incidentally, rocks), and my grandparents took me to dinner afterwards; this, of course, means Marie Callender's. I got the turkey dinner - how I love turkey dinners! I can't eat the mashed potatoes, sadly, since I avoid the poisonous-to-very-white-persons nightshades, but I just got more stuffing instead. 'Cause, you know, that's just how I roll.

ANYway, my grandparents were just having pie, so I scarfed half that dinner in, like, five minutes, so they wouldn't have to wait. I also had a cup of chamomile tea. This was kind of stupid, because I have been unable to keep my eyes fully open for the hour since we left the restaurant.

Okay, moving right along: I hate to say it, because I was really hoping Hil could win this thing, but I think Obama's going to get the Democratic nomination. Le sigh. I don't have anything really against his platform other than the MASSIVELY HUGE point that he's only twelve or whatever. Seriously, I don't think he has nearly enough experience to run a large state, let alone a country - VP, yes. Prez? Not so much! How frustrating this must be for Hillary. Well, maybe I'll be proven wrong, but...I have one of those...feelings about it.

Today on NPR, I heard a snippet of conversation about Antonin Scalia's remarks about the definition of torture. I have to say that the biggest argument I have against the use of torture in interrogating suspected criminals is this: knowing, as I do and most of the rest of the world does, that we have secretly and illegally subjected people to cruel and inhuman treatment means that I can no longer hold my head up as an American. I'm ashamed to be a part of a country that is so two-faced about a matter with such clear boundaries - even the people who advocate it must know it's wrong, or why do they insist that it is only to be used in the most extreme cases? No, torture is always wrong. Always.

I have more things to say on that, I think, but I'm awfully tired. More later. In the meantime, what do you think?

2 comments:

ZERD said...

As far as torture goes, I find it reprehensible, but based on the success of such movies/shows as 24 (where super-agent Jack Bauer regularly "must" torture someone in order to prevent nuclear holocaust), I think the majority of Americans have no problem with it. I also wish that the government would just come out and say, "yes, we are torturing, but this is why we are right to do so," because, frankly, it is kind-of a pussy move to do it and deny it when the whole world knows you are doing it. If they want to strike fear in the hearts of the rest of the world, wouldn't they be better off saying, "yeah, we're torturing to save our citizens; what are YOU gonna do about it?"

ZERD said...

Although, maybe that tactic would cause Armageddon. Ya know, nukes raining down on us from all directions.

Cheery thought, that.