Psyche, Science, and Society

Presidential Scholars protest American torture

July 5th, 2007

Last week, in an inspiring moment, 50 high school Presidential Scholars handed President Bush a letter stating their opposition to American torture. [see my blog entry here].

“As members of the Presidential Scholars class of 2007, we have been told that we represent the best and brightest of our nation. Therefore, we believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions. We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants.”

Democracy Now! interviews two of the students who organized this protest.Watch:

[or read transcript here]

If only the American Psychological Association had the eloquence of these students. But, for the APA, torture is only something to oppose in the abstract. Real, actual, torture, committed by our government, and designed by our professional colleagues, doesn’t deserve a protest, or even a mention. In true Orwellian fashion, the APA tries to remake psychologists as the heroes protesting torture, rather than the perpetrators.

Entry Filed under: APA, Guantanamo, Interrogation, Psychology, Torture, War Crimes