To: s-acc@yahoogroups.com
From: Andrew Phelps <no-action@cwnet.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Nov 2010 11:50:06 -0800
Subject: [s-acc] Re: disclosure
Hi
This engaging discussion brings me back to my "lived experience" in growing up in the world of national security/torture.
I worked my first two summers after high school for the Research Analysis Corporation, a "think tank" for the U.S. Army. The first summer was with a group of "peers" i.e. recent H.S. graduates. We read everything in the Library of Congress on the topic of "nutrition in Nigeria." The second summer I worked for the "Economics and Costing Division" which was studying Eastern European trade statistics.
My supervisor that second summer was "XXX." XXX was a former Nazi. During WW II he had been in charge of agricultural statistics in the occupied Ukraine. His comment about his Nazi past was that "In German, we didn't have the word 'deadline'."
For me, this was a traumatizing introduction to the adult world of national security. I had the chance to continue with that employment, but I demurred. I wanted to
follow my Vision – [so] I took an upper division English class at Bryn Mawr College, in Blake.I also learned that "talking about torture" is exceedingly difficult. I very much appreciate the efforts expressed here to engage that problem.
Best
Andrew Phelps
On Sun Nov 7 8:21, Kmo sent:
Well put Lmn. I use the term as any other term selectively. When i think it will open up a discussion i use it. When i don't i don't. Though sometimes i.use it for shock value. I usually follow up with a statement about learned helplessness and Guantanamo. When contexted this way it is often listened to.