Who Would Jesus Torture?

A sticker along these lines was first suggested to me around the time the Abu Ghraib prison scandal was making headlines, and the controversy is showing no sign of going away. News of "renditions," the secret extradition of suspected terrorists to countries where torture is commonplace. Add to that suggestions of possible secret U.S. detention facilities in eastern Europe. Meanwhile, the problem of Iraqi security forces torturing suspected insurgents is making headlines. 

It is startling to consider that the most openly Christian administration in recent U.S. history also seems to be the most willing to tolerate torture. Though it has occasionally tried to distance itself from such practices, the Bush administration hardly seems sincere when it disavows torture. After all, almost every week seems to bring some new scandal. 

This sticker includes an image from one of the most infamous photos from the Abu Ghraib torture scandal, that of a hooded inmate whose fingers appear to be wired to some kind of electrical shock device.   

On the other side of the sticker is another familiar icon, that of Christ with arms similarly outstretched. I am not sure of the earliest origins of the Christ image, though my image is adapted from a statue that I believe is called "The Christis." This image is often associated with the resurrection.   

Dan R. Frazier