Orson Scott Card: American Soldiers and How We Use Them

RhinoTimes ^ | April 20, 2006 | Orson Scott Card

[neocon1984]

I am so proud of Orson Scott Card, a favorite sci-fi author. He is a liberal who gets it, as indicated in several excellent articles written since 9/11. If we could slip what he's drinking into the kool-aid that the leftist moonbats are drinking, then we have a chance to win the WOT.

[MrEdd]

Well written.

[Billthedrill]

Part of the psychology of Hollywood is that actors and directors tend to be self-absorbed, romantic people who concentrate on the emotional because that's their job. A good deal of the anti-Americanism prevalent in that subculture is simply a result of its being more romantic than patriotism. This isn't new but was heightened considerably by the cultural polarization that took place during the 60's and 70's.

There is a meaner aspect to it, IMHO, and that is that some - not all, but some - people who play heroes come to resent the real thing because they know they're only playing them. Real heroes, too, are complex people with as many faults as the rest of us, and a true portrayal of their characters should include those. That does not excuse an actor or director's tendency to exaggerate them in compensation for their own feelings of inferiority, and I suggest that there's been all too much of that.

And Card is right - they do not like being called The Establishment. It just isn't romantic.

[ARCADIA]

Long and well worth a read.

[Lil'freeper]

I am about ready to start reading my first Card novel...Pastwatch, the Redemption of Christopher Columbus.

Yes, yes, absolutely yes - if for nothing more than the premise alone. It is not his strongest novel by a long shot (see previous endorsements of Ender's Game) but it plays with fascinating ideas and slaughters some liberal sacred cows.

[pinz-n-needlez]

His books about the women of Gensis are excellent, too. Sarah, Rachel, and Leah and Rebecca all become real people, with real lives confronting real issues. They all find their solutions by finding God's will.

They are amazing, as is their author. :-)

Pinz

[KC Burke]

bumpus max

[swmobuffalo]

bump

[TheBlueMax]

OK, my two cents. I agree with this article and author with the premise that torture does not work on a general basis. Are there certain, and very few, situations where torture can work; yes, but not as a rule. Can you make someone talk after applying enough pain? Yes, but it's the accuracy of the information that is important during questioning. Under physical duress, everyone will try anything to make the pain stop. They will use whatever information they have at hand, usually taking a queue from their interrogator, as to what information they are looking for. That does not, however, provide the interrogator with the right information. Using mental duress is far more successful, both in military and law enforcement questioning in obtaining the correct and verifiable information. While physical torture will certainly gain you information in a shorter period of time, mental duress will readily give the correct information with enough time.

[Pukin Dog]

They will use whatever information they have at hand, usually taking a queue from their interrogator, as to what information they are looking for.

Not if the person being interrogated understands that their information will be verified, and if found inaccurate, additional means will be used to extract valid information.

Also, mental torture takes too long, and is used only in specific circumstances. It is by no means more successful than physical torture.

[higgmeister]

Alvin Maker, Ender Wiggin and now this.

Orson Scott Card for President!

He could be the third Democrat I would have ever voted for.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!