Another Choice

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Even a child may identify the vulnerability of an adult and, at the same time, the power to inflict pain and to extort an appreciable benefit.

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Reasons of State: torture is justifiable when it may allow to save lives – a few lives, many lives, a whole city, an entire nation…

How have we come to this pass?

It seems rather late, and quite useless, to ask this question.

But also, or rather: how are we still at this stage?

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May I, may you, may we accept this “necessity” and willingly and knowingly inflict physical pain on another being, a pain which cannot remain only physical since it is a violation of the whole individuality, a direct assault on its integrity?

What is it one seeks to obtain?

Is it information pertaining to the planning and organization of a strike, a major attack, an ugly violence, a considerable destruction?

It happens that the prisoner is forced to wear a hood: deprived of sight, other sensations are exacerbated, increasing apprehension and panic.

But to the torturer, what has happened?

Death has perched on his shoulder, it covers his face, stifles his heart and dictates his thoughts.

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