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Category Archives: Social Commentary

Three Things That Give Me Hope

I’m an avid NPR listener. But twice this week I had to change the channel, because I just couldn’t handle the news. I was better off hearing the new Rihanna song for the 13th time in one morning. I know I’m not alone in this either. With enough content available on the Internet to keep us continuously reading, consuming, viewing and gaming for several lifetimes—and with more being created every second—it’s sadly much easier to find a story about corruption, greed or scandal then one of hope, triumph or justice. Lucky for you, I’m a trained journalist—which means I’ve got digging skillz. And I dug up three initiatives that have me excited. I’m not trying to cover up all the harsh realities of our world with this, but rather remind us there are people working hard to create positive change and that hey need our support to continue working. So, if you had to turn off the news today, this post is for you.

P.S. If you really want to stop hearing those stories, considering supporting one of these organizations or another you believe is serving a crucial need in our world.

Architecture For Humanity (AFH)

Architecture For Humanity/Design Like You Give A DamnArchitecture For Humanity won me over with their tag line—design like you give a damn. Um…HELL YEAH?! After a deep dive into their organization and the privilege of conversing with their enigmatic CEO (that’s Chief Eternal Optimist, mind you), Cameron Sinclair, I can tell you that this is a group that is getting shit done and making good on their endeavors. Many of us have lofty perceptions of the role of architecture and design play in our society. We uphold the Frank Lloyd Wrights and Shepard Faireys with such awe. Yet, so many times high design only works for elite projects that serve a very narrow (and usually wealthy) subset of a population. It would seem that design is for the rich—not so if you’re an AFH sort of human being.

If you’re a believer of designing (and living!) like you give a damn, this is an organization I highly recommend following and supporting. They’re doing good work that matters.

Hantz Farms

Hantz Farms LogoBefore Detroit become Motor City USA and long before it became a symbol of the deteriorating US urban manufacturing core, this central Michigan region was an agrarian utopia. Its fertile soils fed thousands and supported a thriving culture of farmers. Today, Detroit is struggling—but it is not alone. There is a contingency of citizens hell bent on staging a comeback for Detroit. From neighborhoods joining forces to create safe passage for school children to and from class, to the innovative urban agriculture revival Hantz Farms is leading, the people of Detroit are determined to make their city better than ever.

What I love about Hantz Farms is that it simultaneously addresses so many issues: The demise of the family farm; lack of access to affordable, healthy, unprocessed foods; inequitable opportunities at green jobs; lack of cost-effective, clean energy options; the cycle of unsustainable business practices; struggling local business cultures; and inefficient dispersal of government resources. Hantz is investing in the future of Detroit by purchasing vacant or nearly abandoned lots and restoring purpose to the land. Keep in mind these are not issues unique to Detroit. Every large US city is working on this same set of issues, just from various positions on the spectrum. What if we started repeating the Hantz farms model? In Oakland, Cleavland, New Orleans, Riverside and St. Louis? Hell, just about every major US city has a district that could vastly benefit from programs like this. It’s something to think seriously about.

B Corporation

I got pretty stoked when I came across B Corporation and B Labs in my work. It was a rough afternoon of trying to maintain productivity, when I really just wanted to find out everything about them. Here’s what I’ve got so far—and why I’m so excited. B Corporation is an organization that is cultivating an entirely new breed of business. It’s a set of standards, certification and philosophic viewpoint that puts public benefit above shareholder returns and corporate profits. And it gets us another step closer to truly sustainable businesses becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Two states have already passed tax laws that give certified B Corporations preferred status (Maryland and Vermont). This is huge, however unfortunate, our business culture today requires financial incentives for many key players to make moves towards being better corporate citizens with genuine concern for their impact both up and down stream. B Corporation is very smart to include this in their strategy for achieving a BCorps stronghold on 5-7% of US GDP within a generation.

Now, don’t you feel a little bit better about the world?

 

The New Green Fashion Scene

Have I mentioned I love Portland? I mean, what’s not to love about a city who centers its fashion week around green and sustainable digs? Now, I know it might seem kind of silly to some that Portland would even attempt to hold a fashion week. To you I say: Get your noses out of the air. Portland isn’t Milan or Paris. It never has been. Never tried to be. Doesn’t want to be.

What Portland does want is to be known for being a sophisticated, sexy, banging Green metropolis (ranked number one again, what?!?!!?). And we’ve got our own brand of style that goes right along with that. An eco-focused fashion week is well within the branding model. Add to that: proceeds go to the Children’s Cancer Association, emphasizing another Portland creedo–giving back to the community. Totally legit mega bang for your buck.

The only downside that I can see right now is that the seventh annual Portland Fashion Week is still six months away. I don’t want to wait that long, damn it!!! However, since the world most decidedly does not revolve around me, I suppose I’ll have to delight myself with getting to know the organizers–Tito Chowdhury and Chris Cone–in hopes of landing an interview come runway time. I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Tito (who told me all about the event and got me super revved up about it–GOOD PR SKILLS!!!) and I just want to end this post by plugging a cause he’s championing.

You see Tito understands that first lady Michelle Obama has got it going on and that she’s smart cookie as well. She gets the importance of organic nutrition and gave supporters of that movement the nod by planting an organic victory garden on the White House front lawn (which I took obvious pleasure in, seeing as I posted twice about it). Tito wants her to take her commitment (and presumably the Obama Administration’s commitment) to the next level. FASHION. Check his Facebook cause page and join the campaign (he’s trying to get 200 members! Don’t you want to be the magic No.200???)

The First Lady has long been a symbol of style for American women. Michelle Obama has the potential to be a new-age Jackie O. with the kind of coverage she gets for her designer choices. Tito just wants her to make conscious choices and throw in designers who are creating sustainable and responsible clothing that is also hot to trot. Can you pick out which of the clothing items below are “green?”

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Unless you picked all of them, you won’t be winning any door prizes tonight. But that’s OK. I just wanted to make a point. Green fashion isn’t synonomous with yoga wear and nuetral colors anymore (not that any of that is bad! I love me some Lucy yoga apparel! I’m just saying that we’ve broadened the artistic landscape with positive results). Now we can have bright colors, edgy design and you would never know that the inner workings–the fabrics, the dyes and the labor are all eco-friendly and responsible. Damn. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we!

So check out Portland Fashion Week. And if you live in the area, make sure you come and support our local scene, designers and the Children’s Cancer Association. You know I’ll be there, in all my Green Glory!

How To Take One For The Team

Whew! OK, I’m back. Life has been throwing punches for the past two weeks and I’ve been playing defense and offense on all fronts! But I want to share with you something I’ve been learning a lot about since our economy started struggling and since I’ve spent more time in Portland (where the community is very focused and loyal to local businesses and culture). It’s a really simple concept.

We’re all in this together.

“This” being life.

“This” being a recession.

“This” being global warming.

“This” being our community.

I was watching the 1954 Japanese classic, The Seven Samurai, and one scene in particular hit me over the head with an “AH HA!!!” brick.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

If you’ve seen the movie, you might remember the scene that did it. The Samurai are meeting with the villagers–who have hired them to protect their community from bandits during the harvest–and laying out their strategy for defeating the bandits and preserving the year’s crop, therefore saving the village from rape, plunder and ruin. Most of the houses are within the moat they are planning to build for protection, but a few are not. The Samurai break the news that in order to save the majority of the village, the villagers must sacrifice those outlying homes. They also demand that each villager must always be fighting to save the whole community rather than just themselves.

Obviously the peasant owners of the forsaken homes are none-to-thrilled about this. They immediately go into I/Me/Mine mode.

Why is that dude’s home any more important than MINE!? What about ME?! I deserve to have my home saved too!

The few disenfranchised villagers try and separate from the group. They throw down their spears and refuse to help in the common goal of saving the village. They are so absorbed in their own anger and pain that they fail to see that in refusing to save the whole–and instead only fending for themselves–they will not only still lose their homes to the bandits (who will have no trouble overcoming a few peasants), but that they would weaken the ability of the village to save the rest of the homes. Their selfishness takes the situation from a lose-win to a lose-lose.

While a lose-win situation is not ideal, it’s a helluva lot better than a lose-lose.

Lose-win means somebody will have the resources to help you rebound.

Lose-lose means we’re all screwed together.

I believe we’re at that point in history. We’ve got to make the decision. Is it “all for one and one for all?” Or are we too self-absorbed at this point to care whether our neighbors and brothers succeed despite our own struggle and loss.

Some of us are the villagers who are going to lose their “homes” (whether literally or figuratively). Some of us are already there.

But does that mean we should throw down our spears and refuse to put what remains of our energy and resources into saving our country and planet?

If you throw down your spear then you are doing two things. First, you’re hurting your own chances for recovery. You get what you give. Give nothing and chances are you’ll get no support in return. Second, you’re also hurting my chances at survival.  And those of that high school senior in Virginia who wants to be the first person in her family to go to college. And the couple hoping they’ll be able to afford to pay the bills for their sick child on only one income. And the recently homeless man on the corner just hoping for a hot meal and a warm bed.

Reality check: We will all be affected in some less-than-desirable way by the challenges we are facing as a country and a species. But the only way Americans and humanity will rise above those challenges is to tackle them together. Notice I didn’t say unscathed. You WILL take some hits. But will you take one for your fellow human being? For the team, so-to-speak? That’s the test humanity is up against right now. If we can’t, we aren’t going to last much longer. And I don’t know about you, but that’s not how I’d like history to unfold.

We’re all in this together. So let’s suck it up and start acting like the “civilized”, “rational” humans we are.

144 Words of Keepin’ It Real

Can I just put this out there? Cover letters suck. Hard.

I’ve written a helluva lot of them in the past few years and I still don’t get what the point is. Every one is looking for something different. I’ve heard so many conflicting “tips” on how to write the perfect cover letter that I’d be as rich as Bill Gates if they had any monetary value connected to them. Yeah, I know you want me to prove that I have the ability to write coherent sentences. But have look at my résumé. I’m a journalism major and I graduated magna cum laude. I should freakin’ hope I can write a few coherent sentences.

What bothers me about covers letter is this: They are almost always 500 words worth of bull shit.

500 words to tell you how wonderful I am; to play up how “passionate” I am about being a glorified coffee-maker; that make you like me over the other 500 people who applied.

500 words that I’ll spend three days agonizing over and 95 percent of the time won’t even get a standardized rejection letter, much less an interview, for.

You realize that most people are just making crap up and kissing ass in hopes of getting face time with you right?

That just doesn’t work for me. My song-and-dance-for-a-job days are over. I’m tired of trying to read every potential employer’s mind and out B.S. all the other candidates. It’s inefficient and in this economy, I don’t have that kind of time to waste.

So I’m changing tactics. I’m changing the rules of how I play the game. I’m tired to kissing ass. I’m ready to kick it and take some names in the process. Here is my new cover letter.

Dear potential employer:

In lieu of wasting our time, both yours and mine, by writing 500 words of fluff that you don’t want to read and I don’t want to write, please accept this 144-word appeal for a 30-minute face-to-face meeting.

I’m not your average 24-year-old. I’m going places. Hopefully yours is the next stop on my journey. I’m motivated, determined and dying to learn from the best. I work my tail off for the greater good, with integrity and humility. I’m the kind of employee companies wish they had coming out of today’s universities. I’ve got skills. I’ve got talents. They’re listed on my résumé.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? I can learn it. Quickly and adeptly.

I’m worth a half an hour of your time. I promise.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you about setting up a time.

Bethany M. Waggoner

If that’s too aggressive for you, if that kind of gumption scares you, then you probably aren’t the kind of company I want to work for. I want to work for people who are willing to take risks. I want to work for a company that’s working to invent not only new rules to the existing game, but an entirely new playing field.

I want to work for someone who will make an investment in me and trust that I’ll put 100% of my efforts, energy and integrity into achieving success for a worthwhile venture. I’m not a perfect person. I don’t know it all. I’m not the smartest young professional in the game. BUT. I am willing. To learn. To grow. To take criticism. To achieve for the success of the team. To work. Hard. Very hard, in fact.

And I do know one thing: that’s a rare commodity in my generation. So I’m leveraging it for what it’s worth. I just hope that you realize its value. If you do, shoot me an email. We should talk.



I’m Thirsty. How About You?

We all know I love the following: connecting people and a good cause.

So how could I pass up the chance to get involved with the Twestival phenomenon that’s going on world wide?

Answer: I couldn’t.

So here’s the deal! Check out the Twitter Twestival page for info on a Twestival supporting charity: water near you! If you live in the PDX area (or just want to help us raise money), check out our website. Finally if you want to get involved, head over to the Social Vibe page and they’ll donate a dollar for putting up a badge on your website or social media page.

Stimulus Check? How About Reality Check?

Man, just when I get caught up in all of my own selfish desires again, the world does me a favor and reality checks my ass. I’ve been running around, looking for jobs in Portland that will let me live a quality of life that I “deserve” to after all of my “hard work” in college. You know something that will let me afford an iPhone and new fuel efficient car and new decorative purchases for the awesome house I just signed a lease for.

And this is what preoccupies my mind. Getting more. Doing more. Being more.

I forget–we forget–so easily that billions (yes “billions” with a big, fat, capital “B”) are still living in squalor. Not just poverty. I mean abject, disgusting, sewer spilling into your home on a regular basis squalor.

I came across this video/article today by Dai Sugano of the San Jose Mercury News and it broke my heart. Here’s a few statistics to preface it. Over 1/3 of the world’s poor live in India, where this film was shot. Almost 457 Million of impoverished Indians subsist on less than $1.25/day. Upwards of 1 Million inhabit the largest slum of Mumbai (there are several, which all together “house” 6 million Indians), Dharavi, with 18,000 people occupying each square acre. HOLY SHIT! Really think about that for a second. 18,000 people living in an area that some American families own for their family of 3 of 4. That’ll make you rethink feeling crowded in a 2000 sq.ft. home.

more about “Stimulus Check? How About Reality Che…“, posted with vodpod

Seeing work like this (P.S. that is so painstakingly beautiful and so well done) really makes me grateful for what I’ve got going. It also renews my desire to be covering situations like this and bringing them to the attention to all of us living in relative comfort. No matter how hard we work at our desks or construction sites or factories, the fact of the matter is that we have so much more than many in the world can even fathom. We have rights and unions and minimum wages (that admittedly don’t go all that far in this nation, but certainly further than in many third world countries). We have public education and college scholarships. We have hospitals and medicare. None of this is perfect, but just imagine if it weren’t there at all.

It’s just a reminder to be grateful for what we have, even as we strive to make our nation better. We’ve certainly got room for improvement, but we shouldn’t forget to be proud of what we’ve already built and we can’t keep trying to save it all for ourselves. In America, Opportunity is our greatest natural resource, but it’s also our most valuable export. Spread the wealth people. There’s more than enough to go around if we use it wisely.

OMG. OMG. O.M.G.

eschn3am (Flickr Handle)

Photo Credit: eschn3am (Flickr Handle)nto being.

There’s something to be said for the power of positive thinking and putting a vision out into the universe with the intent to manifest it into being.

About a month ago I made it known that I would beg, borrow and steal to get a ticket to the Obama Inauguration. I mean, short of selling my soul or my body, I was pretty much down to do anything in my power to get there.

But I wasn’t coming up with any opportunities. Congressman? Nope. Local newspaper? No way, Josè. Craigslist? I don’t think so.

But then…Two nights ago my friend Chas text messaged me with a lead. A friend of his friend had a ticket, was looking for someone to drive from New York to D.C. with her and was I interested in being that someone? Uh, HELL YEAH I was interested! But I didn’t let myself get too excited, because there were a lot of details left in the realm of vagueness and disappointment.

So I called him and let him know I wanted to know more.

He called me back with more.

She was interested too. Would it be O.K. if he passed on my contact info? Ever the professional, Chas is. Still couldn’t let myself get too worked up, but it was getting a lot harder to suppress my growing elation over the possibility that me + inauguration = reality could be a verifiable equation.

I got a call today, 20 minutes before going to work, from Eva. We chatted for a bit and connected instantly. She offered me the ticket if I could get myself to New York this Friday. Lucky for me, I’ve been saving a free airline ticket for something amazing and this turned out to be it. Five hours later and I’m booked on United 6404 out of Eugene, headed to D.C. to witness history and the birth of Generation Y’s era in political power.

I’ve got a golden ticket. Yeah baby.

I honestly can’t believe it’s really happening. Still in utter and complete shock. I’ve stopped shaking outwardly, but inside I’m all a flutter. I just know that this is something so much bigger than me. It’s so much more important than I can fathom in this space, at this time.

I can’t wait to see what comes. I can’t wait to share what happens.

This little girl is already on cloud nine.

Stay tuned for my LIVE report from clouds 10 and higher.

Home Sweet Homelessness

EyeTunes (CC)

Photo Credit: EyeTunes (CC)

I’m in Portland, OR today, searching for houses with my three roomies. I won’t lie. I’m pretty freakin’ excited! New city, new people, new beginnings. And it starts with a home.

We were out looking at places yesterday and since I’m the daughter of the best Realtor ever (YAY Mom!), I’m generally pretty discriminating. But while we were shuttling between viewing appointments, I got to thinking. I started thinking about how lucky I am to be employed right now. And how grateful I should be to be able to have a home. There are so many people in this world, and increasingly, in this country that cannot boast the same blessing.

I have bums at my local coffee shop. That’s what most people would say. In reality, they are homeless gentlemen, who have become some of my favorite people. They break my heart and inspire me at the same time. These are people who most consider to be the dregs of society. Many of the baristas look condescendingly at them as they order a small coffee or hot water. They roll their eyes as they take a seat and read the paper.

God, they’re sitting down. What will our customers think?

Well, this is what I think. I think the gentleman who humbly asks for hot water in his stainless thermos, says thank you with genuinely grateful eyes and then precisely rations a portion of coffee he bought from the shop is an incredible human being. He doesn’t fuss over no-foam, light whip, 148.7 degrees. He doesn’t sigh with exasperation, checking his watch and tapping his polished designer-soled foot when he has to wait in line behind two people for 3 minutes (God forbid). He’s polite. He’s appreciative. If he had any money to leave a tip, I’m sure he would. He does the freakin’ New York Times Sunday Crossword IN PEN. He is not stupid. He’s just homeless and yes, he does smell a little. But I’d rather sit and converse with him than most of the yuppie hypocrites at the next table. What a life story he probably has! You wanna sit and brag about how you’ve diminished your carbon footprint with your Prius? Who the hell cares? Why don’t you ask him about sustainable living? He could probably give you a few pointers on conservation and reducing excess.

We just get so into ourselves, don’t we? It’s ALL about us, right? I gotta get mine. Me me me me me.

It’s not ALL our fault. American society is built to cater to the desires of the customer. “The customer is always right” right? And that infrastructure of expectation and entitlement makes it really tough to step out of a critical mindset and be grateful for what we have at that moment.  For instance, I have two jobs. I have a home and a reliable car to get me around. I have good friends and a loving family. I got to play volleyball in college–hell I got to GO TO COLLEGE! I live in a country where women can work and own property and say what they think! So why is it so hard for me to pull my mindset away from BMW’s and hot condos in the Pearl District?

As the U.S. economy and housing bubble continue to deflate, leaving thousands of Americans wondering if they’ll have a roof over their heads next month, I find myself so thankful that I’m capable of providing one for myself. I am acutely aware that the organic 1/2 decaf quad espresso with a splash of soy sitting to my right is a luxury–not a right. We have to be prepared. 2009 is going to bring stories of intense hardship as more people lose their jobs and enter the realm of financial uncertainty. Good people. Talented people. People with college degrees and 10 years experience. No one is immune. You might be one of them. I might be too. So we each need to be grateful for what we have right now. We might not have it tomorrow. Besides, it’s not a 3000 square-foot house, richly furnished with European imported furniture and surround sound that will make us happy. A shelter from the storm will suffice. Like my homeless friend, whose name I don’t even know, we can learn to smile more while working with less. It all comes down to what your priorities are. Success, wealth and acclaim are nothing to be ashamed of wanting. But we don’t need them. And we can <gasp> be happy without them.

I’ve already written out goals for 2009, but now I’m thinking that I need to get my priorities in line as well. Accomplishing everything on my list will make me feel good, but I’m convinced that I can still be happy if a few of them fall by the wayside. Don’t get me wrong–that doesn’t mean I won’t be busting my ass trying to get them into the “been there, done that” category, but I also don’t want to lose sight of the big picture. It’s Maslow’s Hieracrchy of Needs. We can’t neglect our foundation in the scramble to get to the peak. Who wants to be rich and unhappy, while my friend enjoys his daily ration of coffee and the abandoned New York Times Crossword from a wealthier man’s paper?

Not this little girl.

Been there. Done that.

Before diving, fearlessly, à la Michael Phelps, into 2009…let’s take a moment to fondly remember 2008.

Finally. God, I’m so over 2008.

On to 2009!

After posting on goal-making strategies and tactics, I thought it only right that I post some of my own. You’ll notice, however, that I’m not calling them goals/resolutions/aspirations. Nope. It ain’t the little girl way. I’m just skipping over all of that fluff and defining them as achievements/successes/accomplishments to start with.

Wait, isn’t that playing against the rules? I haven’t actually achieved/succeeded at/accomplished any of these things as of yet. It’s definitely possible that I’m breaking some hallowed goal making rule, but it’s also certain that I really don’t care. One thing I learned from my college volleyball coach, Joel McCartney, is that you have to create the environment you want to exist in. That means if you want to be playing Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the season, you put the dates on your schedule. You train and work with the idea that YOU WILL BE THERE. And guess what? We made it all four years I played at Winthrop.

How d’ya like dem apples?

Point being: I’m taking initiative and pre-manifesting my success in order to create an environment where every single thing on this list is crossed off by this time next year.

Here it goes! In no particular order…

Between January 1, 2009 and December, 31 2009, I:

1. Ran the Eugene Marathon in less than 3 hours. Training program began Monday, January 5. I also raised $10,000 for Train For Humanity. (This is like a three for one deal as far as goals go! I’m not sure if that means I’m more efficient or just an over-achiever. Suspecting the latter…reasonably certain I’m O.K. with that)

2. Traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to report via photographs on the situation there (Honestly, I’d settle for a trip being in the works. It’s going to take a lot of resources for this one)

3. Called three friends who are long-distance from me each week. Wrote one personal connection email every single day. Went out of my way to engage and meet new people. Handed out my card to EVERYBODY (O.K. not all 6 billion of us, but you get the picture!)

3. Supplemented 1/2 my income from revenue made off of my website. (I’ll need some help from all of you on this one. Keep reading! Keep using your voice! Together, this small group of concerned citizens can and will make a difference. Want to advertise you business on the site? Let me know!)

4. Got accepted into graduate school, with scholarships, for documentary photography. (I’ve got 5 schools on my A list. I’ve got 7 months to put together the most bangin’ portfolio out there. If you have any ideas/leads for me, please feel free to leave a comment or email me!)

5. Volunteered 2+hours a week. (I, like most Americans, don’t give back nearly enough to say thank you to the universe for the amazing opportunities I receive in life. That’s changing. I hope you’ll join me!)

6. Was published (photographs and/or written word) in 6 magazines.

7. Got a show in a gallery/had my artwork included in a gallery show

8. Published one video story every month that was developed, reported and edited by lil ol’ me.

9. Chopped off all my hair (well not ALL, I’m not going for the Britney Spears in the midst of emotional breakdown look) and dyed it platinum blone! Hollaaaaaaa!!!

and No.10 (drumroll puh-leeeezzzzzeeeeeee) Crossed every item off my yearly To-Do List for the first time ever.

HAPPY 2009!!!!

Opening Pandora’s Box

Washington Post

Photo Credit: Washington Post

We’re back! And so are you, which is great, because it’s time to open Pandora’s box, so-to-speak. You’re probably aware that the issue of the use of torture in the so-called “War Against Terror” (Ooooohhhhhh! Ahhhhhhhh!) has been in and out of the news for the past few years. Several scandals hit between 2004-2007, forcing American politicians, citizens and civil servants (including military personnel) to look twice (and frankly, more critically) at the policies and de facto activities we’re engaging in.

The most famous, of course, is Abu Ghraib and the ridiculous photos that were leaked concerning the “night crew’s” nocturnal shenanigans (which of course were ridiculous only in that they were absolutely absurd and the shenanigans downright inhumane). It was impossible for the government and the Army to deny the improper and un-American behavior of their troops due to the photographic evidence. Yet, today and at the time the Abu Ghraib photos hit the front pages of just about every newspaper in America, somewhere between 30-40% of Americans (depending on which poll your looked at: Gallup/CNN/USA Today, Pew, ABC news/Washington Post) believed torture was acceptable in some cases (especially when used in order to gain information that would prevent a terrorist attack).

This isn’t a new attitude. It might come a shocker to the pure at heart, but torture isn’t a new tactic in American dealings. While it’s not something we like to think about or admit to doing, the fact of the matter is that the United States has tarnished the noble values of our Constitution by using torture since before its famous words were even dreamt of. Well, no more! It’s something we are allowing our government to engage in under the auspices of national security–even though Thomas Pickard, the former director of the FBI, has spoken out about the ineffectual and counter-productive results it will yield. And I don’t know, he might be somebody who knows about these things.

To help us understand this phenomenon, we’re going to take a look at several historical periods where torture was condoned and/or directly used by the United States government. But first–we need a working definition of what is meant when we use the word “torture” that goes beyond Merriam Webster. For that, we’ll need to delve into the United Nations Convention Against Torture (which President Nixon signed and Congress later ratified in 1990), the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and Title 18 of the United States Legal Code.

In Article 1 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment, the UN defines torture as:

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term “torture” means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions.2. This article is without prejudice to any international instrument or national legislation which does or may contain provisions of wider application.

The UN Declaration of Human Rights speaks to issues arising in United States Detention Camps in Articles 5-11:

Article 5.

    No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6.

    Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7.

    All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8.

    Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9.

    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10.

    Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.

Article 11.

(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.

    (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

And United States Title 18 states that:

(1) “torture” means an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control;
(2) “severe mental pain or suffering” means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from—

(A) the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering;
(B) the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;
(C) the threat of imminent death; or
(D) the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality; and
(3) “United States” means the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States.

OK, so what does all this mean for our purposes? Since the United States signed and ratified the UN Convention Against Torture, etc., I personally hold us accountable to those standards and they are ones I will use when speaking or torture in this series. I’m definitely NOT a lawyer or legal expert, so I don’t know what loopholes the U.S. government is operating under the auspices of. What I do know is that legal masterminds like John Yoo scare the living daylights out of me because they can look at the justice of human rights and see ways to undermine them when convenient. <shudder>

When is convenient? Well, now, obviously. But also during Slavery, the Salem Witch Trials and the Cold War. The rest of the time we’ve paraded around like our you know what don’t stank. You could argue that we still parade around as if we smell like Chanel, but everybody knows it’s a pretentious cover. What I don’t get is where the Golden Rule escaped us? Do unto others as you would have done unto you. A five-year-old child understands the concept. So why don’t we?

So next time on “Torture! It’s What’s For Dinner”, we’ll be bringing you the cold, hard truth about the United States’ sordid past concerning torture—straight to the dinner table. Unless you choose to read it at work, or on the bus or something.

And P.S. If you want to say some Hail Mary’s in the mean time to proactively “repent” for the multitude of sins we’re going to cover in that entry, go right ahead. We need all the help we can get.

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