Help waterboard Brad Spangler to stop torture
I saw this idea on Daily Kos and I’m willing to give it a try personally. As you ought to be aware, the US Congress has voted to confer a fake aura of legislative legitimacy on Bush administration torture programs.
This shit can not be allowed to stand. It’s morally wrong and can not be tolerated by any who consider themselves fundamentally in line with the libertarian values of the American Revolution and the long-standing if nonetheless imperfect American commitment to simple human decency.
I want to get waterboarded. In order to call attention to this heinous practice and make it the subject of broader public condemnation, I believe it needs to be shown to people. I’m volunteering in order for it to be so shown — online, as a video. These are the sort of dark times that demand a Gandalf to stand before the Balrog and shout “You shall not pass!“. That’s not me, but I can take my best shot at it.
Here’s the plan…
I’m asking for the following volunteers:
1) A lawyer to help us put together all of the appropriate waivers and confirm we can do this without government intervention.
2) A psychiatrist or other trained mental health professional to confirm for all interested parties that I am not acting on any self destructive impulse or urge to do myself harm. I’m not. This is a political statement.
3) A doctor or certified paramedic willing to stand by and administer treatment if it looks like things have gone to far.
4) A videographer to document it.
5) At least one trusted friend willing to help me — by torturing me.
If this comes together, I will get waterboarded soon and we’ll be able to get the video uploaded to YouTube, Google Video or wherever. Contact me if you’re able to help.
UPDATE: Quipped truegodofwar over at the Digg post for this blog entry:
It’s people like this that undermine americans confidence in our leader.ÂÂ
Damn straight.
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Wow. It just sucks that allowing yourself to be tortured is what it takes to wake ppl up to this shit…
I admire your resolve.
Thing is … can’t simulate that. You’ll know that it’ll end well. And that’s the thing: the indignity of losing control completely.
stay well
BTW: I came by about CrabGrass.
I actually had this very same idea come to me yesterday. I have a videographer, but not the rest of the components.
Wish you luck, brother.
Ah, also came here via digg.com
My blog:
http://apestyle.livejournal.com
Just saw this on digg, and posted this there… Hopefully will be of some inspiration:
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I was waiting for someone to do something like this. I hope it gets heavily publicized. Something like this could turn the tables.
I’m actually reminded of an incident in 1920’s Canada, where our first female memeber of parlaiment Agnes McPhail visited a Canadian Prison and spoke out against the deplorable conditions there. It was dramatized in an amazing “Historica minute”, part of a series of one minute segments on TV to promote history:
http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10212
Agnes was an amazing woman… I hope Brad Spangler goes Agnes McPhail on the Administration’s ass.
I have some professional experience with this. Drop me a line or an IM so we can chat a bit, I’d love to be able to help out.
(I’m a recently (medically) retired AWACer)
kaj larsen of current tv was waterboarded a few weeks ago. below you will find a link to watch the footage.
http://www.current.tv/video/?id=13462474
I’ve wanted someone to do this for a while. Here’s some advice. You need to have them get you to say something that you really don’t want to say.
It should be something like this: They waterboard you until you agree to say something like: “extraordinary rendition and alternative methods of interrogation are absolutely necessary if we are to win the war on terror… I make these statements of my own free will and was not coerced in any way.â€Â
After you agree they should untie you, dress you in a nice suit, comb your hair and walk you over to another camera into which you will read your statement. All of this should be done in a single shot without any cuts and should be broadcast live
I really think this could make a real difference.
Good luck.
[...] Now this guy’s got some balls. I mean, subjecting yourself to waterboarding, in an effort to demonstrate the inhumanity of the technique, is an extreme measure to take. Sadly, it seems, this is what it takes to make the average U.S. citizen understand what is wrong with our leadership these days. [...]
You want to make this really powerful? Do this on the senate floor as part of a filibuster. Some senator stands at the podium and expains why this is torture, and why this bill so deplorable. The waterboarding happens on CSPAN, CNN, NBC, and all the rest.
Now the real trick is finding a Senator with even a tenth the moxie you have sir.
Get a life. These guys are terrorists. They would sooner behead you like the did Daniel Pearl than chat about the US right to torture someone. It is about time America Wakes up & remember the lives lost on 9/11.
Rumble, you are absolutely right. We know exactly who these terrorists are and we need to destroy them as they would destroy us.
I volunteer for # 5.
[...] Spangler: I want to get waterboarded. In order to call attention to this heinous practice and make it the subject of broader public condemnation, I believe it needs to be shown to people. I’m volunteering in order for it to be so shown  online, as a video. These are the sort of dark times that demand a Gandalf to stand before the Balrog and shout “You shall not pass!“. That’s not me, but I can take my best shot at it. [...]
Hey Brad,
I just made the connection between Tolkien’s “You Shall Not Pass” and the Spanish Civil War’s popular slogan of “No Pasaran.” “They Shall Not Pass.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,,1884440,00.html
Tolkien, being an open Anarchist and personally highly aware of both Fascism and the Spanish Civil War, would no doubt have been strongly aware of the connection as he wrote it. Tolkien certainly hated “allegory,” as it was abused into uselessness by the literary buffoons/elite of his time, but he was far from apolitical in his intent with LOTR.
Anyway, “You Shall Not Pass” is a frikkin’ awesome Anarchist slogan in any given setting.
(Also, is Monty Python’s Black Knight poking fun at the movement? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_shall_not_pass I may be out on a limb, but it’s a fun one.
[...] Brad Spangler writes: I want to get waterboarded. In order to call attention to this heinous practice and make it the subject of broader public condemnation, I believe it needs to be shown to people. I’m volunteering in order for it to be so shown  online, as a video. These are the sort of dark times that demand a Gandalf to stand before the Balrog and shout “You shall not pass!“. That’s not me, but I can take my best shot at it. [...]
Is this plan still going forward?
[...] we’ve got this idiot who wants to protest this method of torture by himself being waterboarded. It’s [...]
[...] read more | digg story [...]