AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[gfish]

So, some memos were recently leaked from the Bush administration that outlined a legal framework to allow the use of torture, in explicit violation of federal and international law.

Excuse me while I rant a little.

I'm going to sleep so much better knowing that the current administration has its finest legal minds looking for ways to define torture as acceptable. I mean, they draw the line (for now) at intentionally inflicted pain that approaches that of 'organ failure, impairment of bodily function, or even death'. I'm glad that people can only have a few square inches of skin burned off. Unless, of course, the torturer is only incidentally inflicting that much pain, in which case it's all good. I mean, that isn't a loophole the size of the Chunnel or anything. I'm sure these powers would never be abused.

Didn't we just impeach a President because of legal trickery over a blowjob? A legal, fun, victimless act practiced by most adults? I seem to remember seeing that in the papers a few years back. Is this what things have come to, where we'd rather have our leaders excusing torture than oral sex? Maybe this is new form of abstinence education. Don't even think about having safe, consensual, positive sex, kids. It's dirty! Sublimate your urges by physically and mentally abusing those weaker than you! If you absolutely can't get your mind off genitals, you can always attach some jumper cables to them. Just don't touch them!

This is it. I've always been able to avoid patriotic feelings. I can't do it any more. I'm deeply and honestly angry at the administration. They've managed to not just make me ashamed of being an American, but they've actually made me wish I could be proud. Congratulations, Messrs. Shrub, Petrol, Hawk and Boobworm. You've done the impossible. You've offended my sense of national identity.

...unfortunately, I don't think this has made me feel any better.

Comments

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

(Found this via metaquotes as well)

I was always taken aback at what I perceive to be hypocricy in the US media. Somehow, pointing at the Founding Fathers and saying that it's their Puritan morals whodunnit doesn't really help.

Why, yes, let's show our children gratitious violence, blood, gore and death in all guises. It will put hairs on their chests, and besides, it's all harmless fun, anyway! But, OMGWTFBBQ, we can't let them see people naked! And kissing, and loving each other, and displaying physical affection! It might Teach Them Things! They will be dirty, sullied, and try Those Dirty Things themselves! Let's never, ever, teach them about sex, either! If they don't know about it, they won't ever do it!

I'm very sorry if this is going to offend anyone, but such policies remind me a little of my kid brother's ideas. Machine guns and shooting is cool, but, ewwwww! naked girls! Eww!

*steps off her soapbox*

Your post rocked, by the way, gfish.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

Actually, the violence is presented in such an unrealistic (and in some cases shocking) way, the kids would never do it.

They're never going to go Jack-the-Ripper on some streetwalker and make even the cops barf as per Time after Time.

They won't be slaughtering farmers like Star Wars or exploring tombs like in Raiders of the Lost Ark. They aren't going to be getting into lightsaber duels or lopping the heads off of medusae as Perseus did in Clash of the Titans.

They are much more likely to be having affairs with English nurses (Hanover Street--PG--contains some of the most explicit sex I've seen outside of pornos) or making love to their wives (Regarding Henry--PG-13, no nudity).

It's our old Victorian morality biting us again.

"It's much better for children to see violence than sex. After all, when will they ever imitate the violence?" --my father, jokingly, when I pointed this out.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much of the 'BOOBIES OMG RUN' attitude is because much of American-based religion teaches that masturbation is a sin.

If you can't enjoy your own body, you aren't going to enjoy others.