Torture ~ the human conditioning

This is just a personal piece, to put in an awfully general, moral distant perspective. It’s as if I see, that there are aspects of life, which, we don’t talk about much but still occupy allot of space in our heads, lives and society.

Let’s stop and re-construct the discussion in terms of Violence as a Genre, and Rape, Sexual molestation, Torture, Beatings, Verbal violence, Intimidation by any group or individual, as parts or distinct. Some people break it into physical, sexual, verbal, energetic, and economic. For me it’s all part of the human experience, and the world.

So it’s a deep subject, and one that benefits from a personal, introspective as well as external examination. When judging other’s I suggest we start making statements about our own culpability in action first. This acknowledges the humanity of violence and its inescapability when unseen, recognized or honestly felt. I firmly believe we are strengthened in our capacity for honesty when we own our own mistakes and violence, No matter where we act it out whether in secret ourselves, our bodies, and our souls. Violence toward others or the generally condemned and criminal expressions; toward our environment, our pets, and finally our children, siblings and parents.

So, for starters, I do it all the time to too myself. I think that while it’s not ok, it’s not criminally offensive. It is annoying as hell to all the people who may choose to be around me. Some people just simply immediately opt out. Good for them, others, well, they either understand, don’t notice (not as bad as what they do), or simply could care less.

For me, the roots of Violence and Torture are at home, within us, our childhood nightmares, small animals and our familial relations and experiences. I think we discover Violence early as a part of life and then try to live with it however we can. Whether in denial about it, or objectifying it and localizing it in others or externalizing it in road rage, bar brawls, arguments with those we love, or most terrifying and intimate: enjoy it.

So to have a world wide discussion on the subject with the Bush administrations & The CIA being the Latest version of the Nazis, let us remember that we are all in this together, none of us has clean hands, and the best we can hope for is to stop it.

That’s all. Just stop it. Whether within ourselves, or with each other, I would first and foremost suggest we stop doing it. Then let’s see if we cannot find some space to talk without continuing it.