Sparrownoid, thanks for the gift. Keep on keepin' on.

I am constantly reminded of the millions of rational, intelligent, and well-meaning Germans who enthusiastically supported Hitler in 1933-45, died for him, gave away their civil rights to him, and believed his incredible propaganda while his armies invaded and brutalized small countries (and large ones) on every side. The rest of the World watched in astonishment, thinking "How can they possibly believe this maniac?"

Most of those Germans were most certainly not what I would call "evil" people...just people who were seriously misled by the people at the top.

As for good and evil...they constantly reside as great potential forces within the heart and mind of EVERY human being, and therein lies the great challenge of mastering life and acting on behalf of what benefits not only one's own life but also the lives of others.

And that is why Jesus advised that we treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated. Every other great spiritual teacher has advised the same, not surprisingly. It is the crux of good character.

Accordingly, it would be most wise not to ever torture people. Not on any excuse. What goes around most definitely does come around...in due time. Furthermore, torture is a very cowardly act, in my opinion...and is not justified as a response to previous cowardly or otherwise heinous acts by the ones being tortured.

Torturers are people who are too morally weak and too wrapped up in themselves and their own fear to have the vision or the fibre to behave like decent human beings. Those who order them to torture are even worse than that. Those who argue in its defence on the basis of pragmatism have lost their bearings.

- LH