Tag Archives: terrorist

Can they call YOU a terrorist?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by kathiemm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkYl_AH-qyk

During the Cold War, people–particularly those who called themselves conservatives–often accused individuals they didn’t like of being “dirty Commies.” The Senator Joe McCarthy era was a scary time for socialists, liberals, artists, writers—anyone who intimidated the right wing, or made … Continue reading →

Posted in Human rights, Protest | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Simply incompatible with American principles

Posted on September 22, 2011 by kathiemm

“Torture is counterproductive to keeping America safe and it doesn’t matter if we do it or if we pass it off to another government. The result is the same. And morally, I believe, there is an even stronger argument. Torture is simply incompatible with American principles.” (Alexander, 2008)

The ticking time bomb scenario… Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews, Torture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Using brains instead of brutality

Posted on June 30, 2011 by kathiemm

In his book, How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq, Matthew Alexander, with John R. Bruning, describes his memories from his experience as interrogator in a prison in Iraq.How to Break a Terrorist book cover

So, how do you “break” a terrorist, i.e., get a prisoner to open up and give information under interrogation?

Alexander’s answer is in appealing to… Continue reading →

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Values and rhetoric: Lakovian framing, metaphors and stories

Posted on March 3, 2011 by kathiemm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RytyWu3zUq8&feature=related

Amazon.com Widgets George Lakoff, like Albert Bandura, analyzes the ways that people frame deadly behaviors to give them the trappings of morality. On August 26, 2010, our blog introduced Lakoff’s work; today we continue that exploration. According to Lakoff, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Propaganda, Understanding violence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments