Comments on: Tortured Reasoning http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/ Exposing the ugly truths about the Bush Administration. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:53:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.3 by: The Mahablog » Desperation http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-34234 Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:31:19 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-34234 [...] I have in the past written about an uncle who was a POW of the Japanese from December 8, 1941 to August 1945. It’s true that the treatment of the POWs was cruel and barbaric. My cousin, David Faries, wrote his master’s thesis in military history about my uncle and other U.S. Marines who had been U.S. embassy guards in Peking when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Here’s a quote: … at the time of the Guadalcanal Invasion in 1942, much of the Japanese populace believed that Americans tortured prisoners. Rumors circulated that the barbarians churned tanks over those Japanese captured in the Solomon Islands. These of course were untrue, but they were widely believed. Japan, unlike the United States, was not bound to treat its prisoners under international law because she failed to ratify the Geneva Convention articles on prisoners of war. Japan claimed, however, she would observe its stipulations. [...] […] I have in the past written about an uncle who was a POW of the Japanese from December 8, 1941 to August 1945. It’s true that the treatment of the POWs was cruel and barbaric. My cousin, David Faries, wrote his master’s thesis in military history about my uncle and other U.S. Marines who had been U.S. embassy guards in Peking when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Here’s a quote: … at the time of the Guadalcanal Invasion in 1942, much of the Japanese populace believed that Americans tortured prisoners. Rumors circulated that the barbarians churned tanks over those Japanese captured in the Solomon Islands. These of course were untrue, but they were widely believed. Japan, unlike the United States, was not bound to treat its prisoners under international law because she failed to ratify the Geneva Convention articles on prisoners of war. Japan claimed, however, she would observe its stipulations. […]

]]> by: John N. Powers http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-21090 Sat, 22 Jul 2006 23:55:11 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-21090 As the historian for the North China Marines, those Marines taken prisoner on Pearl Harbor day, I would like to read the master's thesis which mentions William Harold Thomas. I have extensive info about his time as a POW on the web site. Any possibility I can get a copy? My contact info is on the site. Thanks. John N. Powers As the historian for the North China Marines, those Marines taken prisoner on Pearl Harbor day, I would like to read the master’s thesis which mentions William Harold Thomas. I have extensive info about his time as a POW on the web site.
Any possibility I can get a copy?
My contact info is on the site.
Thanks.
John N. Powers

]]> by: The Mahablog » The Patients Are Running the Asylum http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18356 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 17:47:26 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18356 [...] I think this tells us a lot about why righties cannot be reasoned with, which is more or less the subject of the three previous posts on this blog. This post, for example, is about the way righties frame arguments to confound any attempt at rational response (quoting Tristero): Like, “So, would you rather Saddam stay in power?” this is a framing of the issue that provides for not even the hint of an intellectually coherent response, let alone a “dialogue.” It is designed to elicit the narrowest range of acceptable responses, responses that reduce disagreement with Bushism to a quibble. [...] […] I think this tells us a lot about why righties cannot be reasoned with, which is more or less the subject of the three previous posts on this blog. This post, for example, is about the way righties frame arguments to confound any attempt at rational response (quoting Tristero): Like, “So, would you rather Saddam stay in power?” this is a framing of the issue that provides for not even the hint of an intellectually coherent response, let alone a “dialogue.” It is designed to elicit the narrowest range of acceptable responses, responses that reduce disagreement with Bushism to a quibble. […]

]]> by: Donna http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18332 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:26:53 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18332 Dealing with righties sure does give the opportunity to sharpen and refine and ultimately empower true American leadership. Thanks, Maha. Dealing with righties sure does give the opportunity to sharpen and refine and ultimately empower true American leadership. Thanks, Maha.

]]> by: A. Citizen http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18309 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:56:06 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18309 Very good post. I say you have done a great job and will use your meme whenever I need it. One thing we in the 'lefty' blogosphere need to stress is that Bush is a liar when he says, as he said just recently, that Americans don't torture. If Americans don't torture why is the Supreme Court ruling that it's against the law. Hmmmmmmmmmmm? Stick that up a righties' kiester and break it off. Very good post. I say you have done a great job and will use your meme whenever I need it.

One thing we in the ‘lefty’ blogosphere need to stress is that Bush is a liar when he says, as he said just recently, that Americans don’t torture.

If Americans don’t torture why is the Supreme Court ruling that it’s against the law.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm?

Stick that up a righties’ kiester and break it off.

]]> by: freD http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18307 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:32:05 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18307 Getting mutually profitable debate from a Bush cultist is almost as difficult as getting a straight answer to a pointed question from a Libertarian. Maybe all those talking points with cut n’ pasted urban legends, and that theoretical jibberish with lotsa “really brilliant thinkers” name dropped are all just crutches for overcoming a fear of “those who can think for themselves”. But I’ll come up with something. Would you have read more Batman comics if he always had Robin torturing the Penguin? … Getting mutually profitable debate from a Bush cultist is almost as difficult as getting a straight answer to a pointed question from a Libertarian. Maybe all those talking points with cut n’ pasted urban legends, and that theoretical jibberish with lotsa “really brilliant thinkers” name dropped are all just crutches for overcoming a fear of “those who can think for themselves”. But I’ll come up with something.

Would you have read more Batman comics if he always had Robin torturing the Penguin? …

]]> by: justme http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18296 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:47:06 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18296 You can't see me,, but right now I am standing on my chair CHEERING .......YES YES YES!!!!Damn right!!!The personal aspect of this piece made my heart swell with pride...THATS MY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!(remember being PROUD of your country?) I can't add anything to what you said, except YOU RULE! Frame this post...Somewhere our forefathers are smiling.....the funny thing of it is, until bush I thought that these were the basic ideals that held us together as a nation, even when we disagreed on other things...my pride is short lived for I see over the last 6 years those ideals have been erased.America doesn't care about being the good guys anymore instead justice has been replaced by a lynch mob ... First they will torture prisoners, many of whom are later released without a charge after many years, once society decides thats ok it is only a matter of time until they decide it is ok to do to Americans as well...hell why stop there? Why not roving firing squads ? Just tell the people the firing squad "makes us all safer"- nough said-or do you want to help the terrorists? All the while it is all lip service.. they disbanded the group hunting for Bin forgotten a year ago...people are throwing away our ideals for nothing.WTF?? You can’t see me,, but right now I am standing on my chair CHEERING …….YES YES YES!!!!Damn right!!!The personal aspect of this piece made my heart swell with pride…THATS MY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!(remember being PROUD of your country?)

I can’t add anything to what you said, except YOU RULE! Frame this post…Somewhere our forefathers are smiling…..the funny thing of it is, until bush I thought that these were the basic ideals that held us together as a nation, even when we disagreed on other things…my pride is short lived for I see over the last 6 years those ideals have been erased.America doesn’t care about being the good guys anymore instead justice has been replaced by a lynch mob …
First they will torture prisoners, many of whom are later released without a charge after many years, once society decides thats ok it is only a matter of time until they decide it is ok to do to Americans as well…hell why stop there? Why not roving firing squads ? Just tell the people the firing squad “makes us all safer”- nough said-or do you want to help the terrorists?
All the while it is all lip service.. they disbanded the group hunting for Bin forgotten a year ago…people are throwing away our ideals for nothing.WTF??

]]> by: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18293 Thu, 06 Jul 2006 01:06:16 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/2006/07/05/tortured-reasoning/#comment-18293 It looks like the chickens are coming home to roost. :) I can't say that I'm overly confident that the members of Congress will do the right thing, and stand up for those things that have advanced civilization and form the foundations of our national character and values. One small thing that I see that troubles me is John McCain. I commend his actions for taking a lead in bringing Bush to bay in his renegade Commander -in-Chief status where he can feel free to torture human being with impunity. But after all his efforts, McCain essentially lays down for Bush when Bush blatanly issues a signing statement contrary to Congessional will. How outraged can McCain really be, or how dedicated to the presevation of basic human rights can he be. Torture and the denial of of basic human rights is something that robs us of value as a nation. I just wish the members of Congress could see that truth and find the courage to act on it. They should put partisanship aside and stand up like their forefathers and honor something greater the themselves. It looks like the chickens are coming home to roost. :) I can’t say that I’m overly confident that the members of Congress will do the right thing, and stand up for those things that have advanced civilization and form the foundations of our national character and values.
One small thing that I see that troubles me is John McCain. I commend his actions for taking a lead in bringing Bush to bay in his renegade Commander -in-Chief status where he can feel free to torture human being with impunity. But after all his efforts, McCain essentially lays down for Bush when Bush blatanly issues a signing statement contrary to Congessional will. How outraged can McCain really be, or how dedicated to the presevation of basic human rights can he be.
Torture and the denial of of basic human rights is something that robs us of value as a nation. I just wish the members of Congress could see that truth and find the courage to act on it. They should put partisanship aside and stand up like their forefathers and honor something greater the themselves.

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