Mushee Gushee on Torture

“Why Torture Is Always Wrong” is the latest headline from Christianity Today Magazine authored by David P. Gushee. This sentiment may make you feel good as a Christian reader but is profoundly misguided.

Why would anyone ever create a policy to weaken our ability to wage the war on terror?

In his introduction, Mr. Gushee quotes three news headlines claiming U.S. torture against terrorists: The New York Times, Newsweek and The Red Cross – all bastions of pro-American thought – yea right. This is the second red flag on Mr. Gushee’s political bias.

David P. Gushee, the author of this headline and article is so caught up in his Jimmy Carteresqe Christian pragmatism, he can’t see the obvious. His statement is axiomatic. Which is ironic – a moderate sentiment with no exceptions. Usually there are 100 shades of gray with moderates but not this time with Mr. Gushee.

To ignore the threat posed to us, especially after 9/11/2001, is profoundly naïve. To say that “torture is always wrong” is to say that hurting our enemies is always wrong. In reading his article, it is clear that Mr. Gushee’s torture policy is the same as the U.N. convention which reads:

“No exceptional circumstances whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency, may be invoked as a justification for torture."

This is outright crazy and dangerously naïve to the realities of war and peace. We all know how effective the U.N. is in punishing rogue nations who torture, mame and extinguish undesirables. Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq- anybody? Hmmm?

And what is torture, anyway?

"Al-Qatani was forced to perform dog tricks on a leash, was straddled by a female interrogator, forced to dance with a male interrogator, told that his mother and sister were whores, forced to wear a woman's bra and thong on his head during interrogation, and subjected to an unmuzzled dog to scare him."
Newsweek, November 21, 2005

I’m sorry- but that is not torture. Laying on a cold floor, food deprivation, not allowing Korans, sex games, 48 hours of Britney Spears – yes that would be suicidally annoying- but it is not torture. That is bread and butter porn in Amsterdam! Ya- there’s a thought- send in the U.N. blue bucket brigade into Amsterdam and shut down the smut houses.

Real torture (which is how I must distinguish it) would be anything close to unbearable pain whether physical or emotional. For examples of real torture I would recommend reading the Fox’s Book of Martyrs.

Let me moderate. I do not condone indiscriminate torture on inmates whether domestic or international. I would reserve real torture for imminent national security needs. That would include the “ticking time bomb” or any other situation where lives would otherwise be lost. Extreme danger would call for extreme measures including real torture. That is common sense.

For a visual (although, fictional) example of the proper use of torture, I recommend the Fox Television Networks show “24”, the fourth season, last episodes. This is the episode where Jack Bauer, counter terrorism agent, finds the Marwan, the terrorist responsible for launching a nuclear missle against Los Angeles and extracts information that would save the lives of millions of civilians.

Many things changed in the New Testament but God did not eliminate evil governments from this earth. Just because our dear country was founded under God, with liberty and justice for all did not eradicate the world of mad terrorists bent on imposing their will on all mankind.

The failure to see torture as a possible tool to be used in the most extreme of circumstances is to affirm a sort of Bill of Rights for terrorists.

Which is exactly what Mr. Gushee is doing in this article that Christianity Today decided to highlight as its cover piece?

Gushee’s bending and twisting of scripture to accommodate his peacenik stance on torture is frankly, embarrassing. It is another example of how many Christians fall into the liberal potholes and embrace policy that puts our nation at risk.

By the way, Mr. Gushee, America is not a “liberal democracy” as you say in your 2nd paragraph. America is a Constitutional Republic. A distinction you would do well to come to grips with. Maybe a more accurate statement would be that you, sir, are a “liberal democrat”.