Remember back when detainee abuse could be blamed on a few white trash hicks? We've come a long way since then. After torture memos and a high-level meeting on the subject that was attended by almost every major figure in the Bush administration came to light, it's come to this: A CIA lawyer flew down to Gitmo in 2002 and briefed them on torture. (or if you prefer, "harsh interrogation.) He told them, "If the detainee dies, You're doing it wrong."
That's it. If the heart stops, if the body starts decomposing, you probably messed up. Grab another and try again--until you get it right. Until you figure out how to get them talking without killing them.
Monday: Ralph Nader
9 Comments:
When I saw the title of this post, I assumed you were going to blog about Scott Meyer's (very funny) strip, "Basic Instructions": http://www.basicinstructions.net/
David
I vaguely recall seeing that way back when. It looks good, I'll have to check it out--thanks!
I got the punchline just fine. Thanks for insulting my intelligence.
Jon, which punchline did you get? There's more than one.
Well it does say "few Americans" will get it, jon, so I guess you are one of the few and proud.
Most people don't know all the Bill of Rights. I can't name all of them off the top of my head. My bet is most people reading wouldn't recall the eighth amendment right away but could probably figure it out it was regarding "cruel and unusual punishment" from the context.
If not, they could google and maybe get a laugh. If not that, oh well.
Jon's either insane or trying to be funny/ironic. The last frame is perfect the way it is. It both makes the joke that anything short of death is not cruel and unusual punishment by today's standards and the joke/comment that this situation came to pass, in part, because the American people don't seem to remember or adequately value the bill of rights. Of course anybody reading the cartoon can figure that 8th amendment = the one about cruel and unusual punishment just from context.
If you're sincerely insulted by this cartoon because you already knew what the 8th amendment was, then you're insane (hint for Jon: you can justifiably be insulted now because I just said you're insane).
I think Jon just insulted all of our intelligence. What an uppity tool.
Ok, so this is specific to the 1st amendment, but still...
"Homer Simpson, Yes—1st Amendment 'Doh,' Survey Finds" (Associated Press 3/1/06).
"About 1 in 4 Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half of Americans can name at least two members of the fictional cartoon family, according to a survey.
"The study by the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just 1 in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms."
Snarfed from: http://www.motherjones.com/commentary/tomdispatch/citizen-stupid.html
David,
I'm way ahead of you, my friend.
http://www.mattbors.com/archives/171.html
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