"JR" wrote in message
...
Opus--Mark H. Bowen wrote:s.

It is my opinion, that if we allow "Enhanced Interrogation
Techniques"/torture to become common place in our arsenal of intelligence
gathering, we have abandoned our constitutional beliefs and are no better
than those we call our enemies.

For the most part, that's true. But the thing is, we *are* no better than
those we call our enemies and we never have been.

I agree with what you say, JR. I'm not much of a wordsmith and was simply
trying to convey that we should follow the tenets of our constitution. I
have my own opinions about our nations foreign policies, but didn't want to
start a ****-fight by expressing them.

The myth of some inherent ethical or moral superiority adhering to
Americans because they're American is just that: a myth. Which is exactly
*why* the guiding principles of the Constitution--and our ability (so far)
to submit to them--are so important.

I was not trying to allude to an ethical or moral superiority that we hold
over other peoples. I was attempting to state just what you did in the
latter statement above. I believe that the U.S. Constitution forbids
"Enhanced Interrogation
Techniques"/torture under the Eight Amendment.

The fact that so many are so ready and willing to find excuses for
throwing out them the moment the going gets rough only underscores, to my
mind, just *how* important it is to keep and protect them at all
cost--rather than rely on knee-jerk hubris about our own personal
specialness.

Words to live by, IMMHO.
"Those willing to give up a little liberty for a little security deserve
neither security nor liberty." (Benjamin Franklin)

There are many that would say that the times have changed and things that
were true during the 1700s are simply too antiquated to apply today. I don't
believe this to be true, as the fear of terror (state supported or other)
was just as salient in Franklin's time as it is today.

Op

- JR