Satanic values

The inversion of values in the modern Newspeak of politics comes out clearly in this, the most appalling and clearly BAD idea I've seen yet coming from the "Christian" Right: The Traditional Values Coalition ("Empowering People of Faith through Knowledge") is all for torture.

The Traditional Values Coalition asked members of Congress to support President Bush's reform of prisoner treatment policies because "this is a war unlike any other we have fought -- the enemy is faceless and deliberately attacks the innocent."

Oh, really? you mean the innocent have never been attacked before? Ever?

TVC Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon said American military and intelligence experts are hampered by a vague "outrages upon personal dignity" statement in Article Three of the Geneva Convention of 1950.

Actually, "outrages upon personal dignity" is pretty easy to determine. Sorta like right from wrong. (Here's a hint, Rev: torture is Wrong.)

"We need to clarify this policy for treating detainees," said Rev. Sheldon. "As it stands right now, the military and intelligence experts interrogating these terrorists are in much greater danger than the terrorists. Civil suits against our military personnel are tying their hands as they try to get vital information which will save the lives of our young military people and the innocent."

Um, like those who've been accused of crimes that haven't been proven? Like, lessee, the Canadian computer consultant who was falsely accused by people who'd been tortured, and was tortured himself into confessing crimes he didn't commit?

"Our rules for interrogation need to catch-up with this awful new form of war that is being fought against all of us and the free world. The post -World War II standards do not apply to this new war.

Nope. Apparently only medieval standards apply.

"We must redefine how our lawful society treats those who have nothing but contempt for the law and rely on terrorizing the innocent to accomplish their objectives. The lines must be redrawn and then we must pursue these criminals as quickly and as aggressively as the law permits.

And if the law allows for a presumption of innocence or for humane treatment of the accused or for, lessee, civil rights, well, then, to hell with the law! Or at least, change it so we can ignore all that pesky civilized stuff, like no terrorizing the innocent to accomplish our objectives.

"And since this debate is, at its very core, about preserving the traditional value of prosecuting injustice and protecting the innocent, TVC will score this vote in both the House and the Senate. We encourage all of our supporters and affiliated churches to contact their elected representatives and let them know we support President Bush's efforts to update our methods of interrogating terrorist detainees in order to provide greater protection for our troops and the innocent."

Yes, indeed, that IS what this debate is about. Too bad that this value is about protecting ALL of the innocent and prosecuting ALL injustice, whether it is committed by Their Side or Our Side. Looks to me like the good reverend is only concerned about bad things done by people he lables as enemies, and isn't too worried about bad things done by the people he votes for. Because, of course, in his eyes, the means justifies the ends.

What an appalling, spiritually impoverished excuse for a religious leader. He is the embodiment of exactly the opposite values that he claims to be fighting for.