The advent of Mother's Day always evokes memories of my own childhood and evolves into the awareness of my own experiences as a mother.  Ironically, these recollections have delivered me to now declare my own views on the torture issues. (Not just about President Obama's hesitation to prosecute the architects, but the use of torture itself.)

   Before entering into the foray to defend or condemn any of the principals, I've attempted to research (including reading many posts here) and review sources relative to the many facets of this issue.

    As I toiled, touchstones my Mother espoused came to mind....

    'Let your conscience be your guide.'

    'Two wrongs don't make a right.'

    'There's always someone worse off than you.  Remember the man who wept because he had no shoes until he saw the man with no feet.'

    'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'

    'Be mindful, the Truth of your actions leads to the Consequences of your actions.'

   I have never been a violent person.  As a child I can only recall one time I received any type of physical discipline.  My Mother used her hairbrush to smack my bottom and afterwards she cried harder than I did.  And fortunately, I have never been a victim of domestic (or relationship) physical abuse.

    I don't like movies with violence.  I don't believe in corporal punishment for children nor condone threats of same.  I don't like professional fights, wrestling or 'sporting' events where the goal is to physically harm your opponent.  When there was a mouse in the house, I purchased the contraptions that only capture, but not harm and released the critter outside.

   In TheraP's post on this site, entitled Conspiracy to Sanction Torture, May 9th, she states, 'I cannot condone torture under any circumstances.  No matter what scenario you try to give me.' 

      That got my attention; perhaps because of my own timely musings about motherhood. Because ...............

   As a Mother, I understand and have experienced the immediate primal reaction of wanting to harm any person who hurt my child(ren).  I discovered years ago, much to my surprise, I was capable of and even supported the infliction of physical and/or psychological pain upon anyone who was responsible or enabled the abuse of my own.  I have no doubt that in the moment, if the only way I could save my child or spare him/her harm, was to inflict pain upon the person(s) responsible, I wouldn't hesitate to 'torture'.  The same, I believe, would be true if it was anyone I loved.

   BUT, (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT!).....

   WHAT IF I WASN'T 100% POSITIVE, but surmised, that someone was responsible or at all culpable in harming my child - past, present or future...... 

  WOULD I TORTURE?

  WHAT IF it wasn't my loved one, but you or yours?

  Would I still engage in and support 'torture'?  Would you?

  The reality is that it's just so damn easy to make decisions and issue judgments in the abstract!  There's a reason why potential jury members are asked if they are related to or know the victim and/or defendant.

  I also considered...

  WHAT IF an accomplice of someone like Timothy McVeigh (OKC bomber) was apprehended hours prior to the same type of horrific act and after all else failed, the only chance to obtain needed information was to 'torture', would I endorse the physical and emotional abuse to acquire the facts needed to stop it?  What would the family members of McVeigh's victims sanction if given the option?

  WHAT IF, only hours before boarding those planes on 9/11, a pair of the terrorists boarding one flight were captured and we knew there were others, but not the flights or when? There wasn't time to shut down all airports, cancel flights.....would the families of the victims support' 'whatever means necessary' to stop the carnage and destruction that ensued? 

  Would I?

  Would you?

   These are just a few of the questions I've asked myself.  Hypothetical?  Perhaps. However, I believe all are relative to the topic and needed in my quest to consider as many aspects of the issue as possible.

   These and other like contemplations have delivered me to this stance on these issues:

   Full Disclosure:  I am a registered Independent who has never supported the Iraq war or voted for either Bush. I believe that Cheney, Rove and cohorts are, at the least, narcissists (if not raging sociopaths).

   It is also noted the architects of the torture of prisoners declared the torture was authorized because they were trying to protect our country and populace from future harm.  (That's their story and they're sticking to it!)

   And I've established the fact that I am capable of resorting to 'torture' to protect my own and most likely you and yours when confronted with abuse up close and personal.

In the abstract:

   I do not condone the torture of prisoners of war. It's unlawful and inhumane. 

   I do not believe that it is the right of anyone to demand that others either torture or be tortured. 

Without qualifiers:

   Violence begets violence. 

   However, you harm my child and I will not rest until you suffer and reap the consequences of your actions.  I will break down any door or hurdle any obstacle that attempts to stall or prevent me in achieving this goal.

   I believe that President Obama should mandate a commission to seek the truth and ultimately deliver consequences (entity needs to be without politicians, military personnel or anyone professionally or politically overtly vested either professionally or financially in the process and outcome).

This is the glaring fact we must acknowledge and declare:

Torture: n. Mental anguish.  Something causing sever pain.  The inflection of severe pain on a person as a means of punishment and/or coercion.

         v. To twist or turn abnormally and distort.

Ironically - The definition of torture is applicable to war too......

Thus, we commit the ultimate torturous act when we engage in the acts of war and set in motion mandates that our loved ones will engage in actions that will absolutely harm, if not kill, them and others.  (Yet, those who have the power to enact the command seldom place themselves or their loved ones on the battlefield. We don't demand, much less expect it......Why is that?)

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 Mom - I thank you and love you for raising me in a home where bigotry was not tolerated nor given credence; to be generous in spirit as well as deed; to consider the effects of my actions on others; to wish nothing for myself I wouldn't give willingly to and for others and so many other 'touchstones' that you gave to me both in word and deed.  And for always knowing that no matter what, you were always my safe haven.  I miss you.

And to my children.....

    'Let your conscience be your guide.'

    'Two wrongs don't make a right.'

    'There's always someone worse off than you.  Remember the man who wept because he had no shoes until he saw the man with no feet.'

    'Do unto others as you would have them to unto you.'

    'Be mindful, the Truth of your actions leads to the Consequences of your actions.'

Happy Mother's Day and Peace to all!