Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin
Soldier Who Called Out Torture in Iraq Is Laid to Rest at Arlington (nytimes.com)
15 points by ProAm on Aug 11, 2023 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments


> the fatal casualty of what his family and supporters described as a seemingly unresponsive V.A., which denied him care as he was shuffled through civilian hospitals and group homes, growing ever more confused and frail while receiving antipsychotic medication against his will, according to medical records.

So, Americans still torture, only its under the guise of 'mental health assistance', so you know .. thats okay.

/s

Its not okay. The culture of torture extends deep within our psyche as a society. We have industrialized it, weaponized and commercialized it. There are people who profit from this behaviour.

We shall never forget this heros' name.


> There are people who profit from this behaviour.

Also industries. The gun industry and Hollywood are the biggest profit makers from torture. Torture is glorified in almost all Hollywood movies.


This seems like a dubious leap. What is the substance of this argument? In the absence of movies, people would still buy firearms, either because they hunt, seek to arm themselves for protection, or simply to collect them, not unlike how some collect knives, stamps, or Precious Moments figurines. We know this because people have been buying firearms long before there was cinema.

Other than some terrible movies, Hollywood has never actually tortured anyone.

It is important to remember that Hollywood is a reflection of our society. It seeks to entertain and sometimes (wrongly) to exert influence on that society. It has limited effect because humans are more than the entertainment that we consume. That being said, people like to see the bad guy get his fingernails pulled out, we recoil at horror movies while secretly laughing to ourselves, and weep when the hero is put through agony. The film was written purposely for this emotional effect. That doesn't seem like glorification; a gratuitous worship for worship's sake. (Think Stolz der Nation.)

Films and other entertainment exists because it moves us emotionally. Few act on those emotions after the fact. Not many people identify with the two shop keepers and their pet in Pulp Fiction, but everyone cheered when Butch and Wallace dealt with them. And few can relate to Calvin Candie or Steven, but rejoiced when they got theirs.

Is being shot in both knees and dynamited torture?

Is that glorification, or is it catharsis? A closing of a loop that was opened when you were introduced to a well-written villain.

I also don't remember torture being "glorified" in Gone with the Wind, the Wizard of Oz, or There Will Be Blood. Like all topics, there are nuances and details that cannot be ignored. Generalizations are a precipice.





Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: