So fucking tired

[nancylebov]

NPR is interviewing an anti-torture guy from the ACLU, which is fine. Someone calls in to say that terrorists treat people really badly, so why should we do anything differently? The anti-torture guy says, "Because we're Americans."

I have this werid belief in universal values. I would like Americans to not torture because they have some respect for people and for truth and for the long run. I want Americans to behave decently because it's worth doing, not because it's a special American thing.

Comments

Re: It's rhetoric

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I think "because we're human" isn't the right answer for precisely that reason.

I vote for "because we want to live well" or "because we want to do things that work" or, in my case "because we still want to be able to enjoy Doc Smith"--somehow, reading about the Delgonian Overlords (a species with a great fondness for torture--they're the bad guys) isn't as much fun as it used to be. Or possibly "because we don't want to look like monsters", but if I think about that too much, I'll circle back to "so fucking tired", and I really need to do some calligraphy.

Re: It's rhetoric

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

"Because we're civilized" might do.

"Because we're Americans" runs into the tiny issue that encouraging torture of undesirables by the police and security forces of banana republics friendly to the USA is a fairly well established tradition in US foreign policy. See, for example, some of the less savoury courses offered at the School of the Americas.

Re: It's rhetoric

[bruhinb.livejournal.com]

Once upon a time the phrases, "because we want to live well," and, "because we want to do things that work," were synonymous with, "because we're Americans."

Re: It's rhetoric

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

redbird's answer was the descriptive one; your answer is a prescriptive one. Which answer is appropriate depends on whether one is looking for a description of human behavior or, as you are, a precept that would result in humans living more ethically.