Who stands with those who suffer? Who stands with the victims of torture? Who stands with the Disappeared? Who stands with the victims of Death Squads?
"In ‘The Tortured Christ’, a Brazilian sculpture of unbearable agony, Guido Rocha used his own experience of torture to proclaim his faith that Jesus was with him and with his companions in their terrible suffering and that therefore there was hope."
I'm sure the people who tortured Rocha believed they had a "just cause" to defend.
While there may be many comforting utilitarian arguments for the use of torture --namely saving lives as a result-- how do we as a community suffer by even allowing this conversation to enter the social imagination.
MSNBC has already reported that a new CIA report basically says the war in Iraq is lost. (If the purpose is to bring democracy, stabilize, and de-terrorize then it is lost) Iraq has become a new terrorist hot bead and training ground . . . Have we made matters worse?! Do we think that torture is going to do what invasion couldn't?
If we take a stand for the Gospel, for the Sermon on the Mount, for the Humiliated and Risen One then we must take a stand for Justice and for the dignity of life . . . even in the face of injustice and dehumanization. God is always present with the Un-God. God is present in the sufferings of all Creation, not just the "Insiders".
If the body of Christ is to be Christ to the world then it will not be accomplished through torture. Even more pressing, we cannot allow our elected officials to do our "dirty work". The Christian voice is not for a "Born-Again" president and Machiavellian policy . . . NO! The Christian voice is for the Sermon on the Mount to be lived out.
Let me be clear on this: I am not talking about pacifism. I am talking about the dignity of the life giving gospel (a stand for Justice, Life, Love for Others) to be reflected in our domestic and foreign policies.
As a nation, we are in the midst of war. People are being mutilated and dying everyday. However,torture is not going to bring an end to this war. No, torture is a demon that has been given birth in the midst of this war. This demon has one goal: to breed suffering, fear and terror in the victims and the bystander. While we watch . . . God is present.
What will we do?
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