Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Ethical Dilemnas
The film Zero Dark Thirty presents the ethical dilemma of the disconnect between what is acceptable as humane treatment and what is necessary in order to gain intelligence. The film depicts the CIA as a no-holds bar organization that is willing to do whatever it takes to get information out of its detainees. This includes brutal torture, which is also meant to humiliate the detainee at times. The horrific nature of the torture creates a shock and awe effect for the audience and leaves one questioning the actions of the United States government. On the other hand, however, the film also serves to illustrate the harsh reality of war. This is to say that what the military perceives as necessary in order to achieve its goals may not line up with what the common civilian believes is just and moral. Thus, the question of is torture really worth it arises. I, for one, believe that the torture portrayed in Zero Dark Thirty is just and moral, considering the subject is said to have played a role in the attacks of September 11.
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I agree with your analysis of torture in the film. It is interesting to note the disconnect between what President Obama said to the people about how America is not going to torture, while the CIA was continuing to torture. Also, how one of the superiors made a comment about how you could go to Guantanamo and question a lawyered up terrorist whose lawyers will only return and notify what they were questioned about. So it is interesting to note the usefulness torture can have. But that usefulness works both ways because people's definitions of "good" vary.
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