The Priest of Abu Ghraib
smithsonianmag.com
The Priest of Abu Ghraib
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Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#2This was a very moving piece, beautifully written. The story itself reminds me of a parable. Thank you for posting.
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#3This was hauntingly beautiful. A story of conscience and reconciliation with the paradoxes of war and personal spirituality/religion.
His decision to join the war as an interrogator, believing his presence and oversight would ensure the humane treatment of prisoners is admirable. I often wonder what is the right thing to do: non-participation, or conscientious participation to ensure abuses are minimized.
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#4This was hauntingly beautiful. A story of conscience and reconciliation with the paradoxes of war and personal spirituality/religion. His decision to join the war as an interrogator, believing his presence and oversight would ensure the humane treatment of prisoners is admirable. I often wonder what is the right thing to do: non-participation, or conscientious participation to ensure abuses are minimized.
In this telling he tried to effect change from within, but was overwhelmed, both spiritually and physically, by what he found there.
If there is a positive to draw from it it lies in his ability to talk about the experience afterwards through drama and indirectly through this piece. I don't think that level of success often accrues to people trying to effect positive change from within.
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#5The notion that its better to have "good" people doing bad things than "bad" people is such a trash take, but it shows up in nearly every conversation of moral consequence these days.
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#6The notion that its better to have "good" people doing bad things than "bad" people is such a trash take, but it shows up in nearly every conversation of moral consequence these days.
Yeah, bad is who does bad, not much more to it than that when it comes to torture and wars of convenience.
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#7This was hauntingly beautiful. A story of conscience and reconciliation with the paradoxes of war and personal spirituality/religion. His decision to join the war as an interrogator, believing his presence and oversight would ensure the humane treatment of prisoners is admirable. I often wonder what is the right thing to do: non-participation, or conscientious participation to ensure abuses are minimized.
Which one's more likely to be noticed (by the masses) and affect change? This article, years after, or the fact they have to increase wages 200+% because no one with a mirror will do the job?
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#8[deleted]
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#9That he was able to get such good results from his interrogation using kindness and dialog instead of violence is interesting. This is apparently a known effect. Was a very interesting article posted here some time ago describing similar techniques that I found fascinating: https://psmag.com/social-justice/nazi-interrogator-revealed-...
Re: The Priest of Abu Ghraib
#10Such a great godlike compassionate gentle guy ... working in Abu Ghraib without noting abuses and reporting them or even figuring out why that damm prisoner cries.
I don't think I would have courage to report in such situation. Socialization that makes it all normal and very real consequences whistleblowers get would stop me.
The issue is not dude. That issue is article writer trying to frame that work as something gentle glossing over the actual reality of the situation.