Ethics, Christianity, Civil Liberties, and Justice

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Many years ago as a young police officer, I was competing for a promotion. During an interview, I was asked whether I would torture a captured kidnapper for ransom suspect to learn the hidden location of five school children that would die within hours if not rescued. Without hesitation, I said, "Yes!" Well, not only did I not get the promotion, but I scored near the bottom of the candidate list. It was years before I ever tried to promote again.

Today, in public (like for a promotion), I would answer that question quite differently, but in my heart I know that I would not hesitate to torture anyone if I knew it would save an innocent person's life.

Certainly, Ethics, Christianity, Civil Liberties, and Justice all play a significant weight in a very difficult personal decision. Should 24's Jack Bauer, torture some one to save the President, or countless other innocent Americans? Should anyone torture an admitted radical Islamic terrorist to prevent a future strike?

Why is it that we publicly chastise the CIA for torturing a terrorist by putting a bug into his cell him to get him to talk; while at the same time, we praise the naval sharpshooters who took the lives of three pirates to save one American, and call them heroes?

I just don't get it. Is it not the responsibility for our government to provide us with security? Our laws are founded upon Ethics, Christian fundamentals, Civil Liberties, and Justice to give us the absolute right to self defense. So what's the difference when a local cop shoots a deranged person holding a knife to an Innocent's throat, or choking a person to get him to tell you about his accomplices's plan to plant a bomb at Dodger Stadium?

What say you? Since most of you will not comment publicly, please take the poll to the left. I won't look to see who you are. I'll just wait out by The Dock.
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