TORTURE (Reflective Discussion)

Katelin

What is torture? Torture can be both physically and mentally define as being forced to maintain in a pain stressful position. Torture often is used for obtaining information, confession, or a piece of third person information. As a result, it highly leads to Psychology problems due to the amount of torture.

Is Torture legal? Although torture is not permitted anywhere, it is still being dealt with but, it is a violation of international law. In 1984, a convention was taken place on torture and cruel emphasizing treatment (CID). It had resulted in a treaty signed by 74 countries, including the United States. Although, the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution rules the government from using cruel and unusual punishment.  

In your opinion, is torture an effective method in eliciting accurate information from anyone? Why or why not?

In my opinion, torture is not an effective method in eliciting accurate information due to mentally, emotionally, and physical harm. Citizens have their right in privacy so, they should not have to be torture for giving up information, confessions, or third-party information. When a citizen is under the pressure of being tortured, it is possible that they may mislead wrong information by mistake, which reflects to as a guilt person instead of innocent. Even so when the person is honest, why are they being tortured? Once they’re done being torture, they will not have the same mindset as before, which will result in psychological issues. I believe citizens should have the correct method into obtaining the right information from citizens instead of torture, which they say is the proper way but.

 What is the Patriot Act? Which part of it do you like/dislike? Why?

Patriot Act has been active since 9/11, which is government surveillance; it has openly allowed law enforcement to gather private information. This method controls terrorism, and such has kept records of text messages, calls, and social media. However, I do like the part where do keep track of any treatments such as terrorism proving our safety and protection.

Can the U.S. government torture foreigners abroad? If so, cite the law/s which allows it to do so

Neither international and US citizens should not be tortured based on their nationality. The U.S. government does not have the authority to torture foreigners since it is illegal

How would you deal with a situation in which you are being tortured for the information you may or may not have?

In all honesty, if I were in a situation of being tortured into giving up information or confess I would not know how to react in this type of situation but, I would use best in knowledge with every action that is being taken. I’ll try my best to get out of the situation. However, I would try not to make a mistake, which would lead me to get killed. Overall, I can not imagine such violence in being torture as suppose to Donald Trump stating he would want the pain to be more aggressive.  

Donna

A. Torture is the action or practice of inflicting pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain. Torture is something you don’t normally see today. However, back in the day torture was a method of obtaining useful information from individuals. 

 

B. No, torture is not legal. Torture is illegal under both the United States law and international law. In fact, President Obama issued an executive order strengthening the ban on torture and limiting interrogators to the tactics in the Army Field Manual. However, President Trump considers that torture should be legal, specifically for terrorists. 

 

C. In my opinion, torture isn't an effective way in eliciting accurate information from someone because I don't believe in violence as  the gathering information method.  with using torture as a method in gathering accurate information,  misinterpretation could occur because the person being tortured wouldn't be able to pronounce their words clearly due to the fact that they are in so much pain. Citizens also have their right in privacy so, they shouldn’t have to be tortured for giving up information, confessions, or third party information. Additionally, when under pressured the person could be viewed as a guilty person when in reality they’re innocent. Innocent til proven guilty. I believe the right way to obtain information is, honestly through communication. 

 

D. The Patriot Act is an act that was passed by Congress as a response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It was signed by President George W. Bush.  I would say I like most of the parts of the act because it allows investigators to use tools that were already available to investigate organized crimes and drug trafficking, allows law enforcement to use surveillance against more crimes of terror, allows federal agents to follow sophisticated terrorist trained to evade detection, allows law enforcement to conduct investigations without tipping off terrorists, and allows federal agents to ask court for an order to obtain business record in National Security terrorism cases. The act also controls terrorism, kept records of text messages, calls, and social media. 

 

E. No, the United States government cannot torture foreigners abroad because it torture and abusive interrogation tactics are illegal under both United States law and international law. All applicable international law applies to the United States officials operating abroad, including the COnvention against Torture and the Geneva Conventions. 

F. Since I am a sensitive person who doesn’t like to show it very much, I would probably cry while being tortured for information. But since I don’t have a lot of information for people, I would try my best to tell them the truth, that I just don’t have the information they are looking for. Communication is key, and violence isn’t the answer to finding out things. However, it also depends on the situation that I am in, did I get sentenced for something I did or was I falsely accused of something?