What you are saying, buhogrunon, is fair. The point that I think should be stressed in Daniel's discussion, however, is that a system that only punishes and fails to reform is an effort in vain. Given that punishment usually takes place within a designated period of time, after which prisoners enter again into 'normal' society, should we not be aiming for something better with which they can approach life outside? What is the point of churning out people if not angrier than before, feeling no less persecuted by the institutions (for many who end up in prison have been victims of structural violence - institutions and policies that foster discriminatory preferences of gender, class, race, sexual orientation, and other classifications - and whether or not they know the root of the evil, persistent societal disdain can only hurt). Would it really be an excusing of immoral actions to permit the actor to truly feel the grief and remorse that is due? And to say, "There can be change, you don't have to do this again, you don't have to be chained by your experiences"?
Such a philosophy of reform would rest on the understanding that humans are capable of appropriating their own development. This is the one thing that distinguishes us as animals. It may be incredibly difficult to understand oneself and by extension human nature, but the research is out there. It is in our policies and our prejudices that are yet unwilling to give - not forgive. 'To forgive' is so common a mantra delivered to those wronged by, but it's misleading for many, ultimately serving to undermine their capacity for compassion. What we want is change, for nobody else to feel the hurt that we feel. In order for that to happen we must allow those who have wronged the time and space to learn.
One 1955 MKUltra document gives an indication of the size and range of the effort; this document refers to the study of an assortment of mind-altering substances described as follows:[27]
1.Substances which will promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public. 2.Substances which increase the efficiency of mentation and perception. 3.Materials which will cause the victim to age faster/slower in maturity. 4.Materials which will promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol. 5.Materials which will produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering, etc. 6.Materials will cause temporary/permanent brain damage and loss of memory. 7.Substances which will enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called "brain-washing". 8.Materials and physical methods which will produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use. 9.Physical methods of producing shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use. 10.Substances which produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc. 11.Substances which will produce a chemical that can cause blisters. 12.Substances which alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is enhanced. 13.A material which will cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a fabrication under questioning. 14.Substances which will lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts. 15.Substances which promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects. 16.A knockout pill which can surreptitiously be administered in drinks, food, cigarettes, as an aerosol, etc., which will be safe to use, provide a maximum of amnesia, and be suitable for use by agent types on an ad hoc basis.
In 1964, the project was renamed MKSEARCH. The project attempted to produce a perfect truth drug for use in interrogating suspected Soviet spies during the Cold War, and generally to explore any other possibilities of mind control. Another MKUltra effort, Subproject 54, was the Navy's top secret "Perfect Concussion" program, which was supposed to use sub-aural frequency blasts to erase memory. However, the program was never carried out.[21]
Because most MKUltra records were deliberately destroyed in 1973 by order of then CIA director Richard Helms, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for investigators to gain a complete understanding of the more than 150 individually funded research sub-projects sponsored by MKUltra and related CIA programs.[22]
The project began during a period of what Rupert Cornwell described as "paranoia" at the CIA, when America had lost its nuclear monopoly, and fear of Communism was at its height.[23] James Jesus Angleton, head of CIA counter-intelligence, believed that the organization had been penetrated by a mole at the highest levels.[23]
[edit] GoalsThe Agency poured millions of dollars into studies examining methods of influencing and controlling the mind, and of enhancing their ability to extract information from resistant subjects during interrogation.[24][25]
Some historians have asserted that creating a "Manchurian Candidate" subject through "mind control" techniques was a goal of MKUltra and related CIA projects.[26] Alfred McCoy has claimed that the CIA attempted to focus media attention on these sorts of "ridiculous" programs, so that the public would not look at the primary goal of the research, which was developing effective methods of torture and interrogation. Such authors cite as one example that the CIA's KUBARK interrogation manual refers to "studies at McGill University", and that most of the techniques recommended in KUBARK are exactly those that researcher Donald Ewen Cameron used on his test subjects (sensory deprivation, drugs, isolation, etc.).[24]
topics. edit] MKUltraThe project's intentionally oblique CIA cryptonym is made up of the digraph MK, meaning that the project was sponsored by the agency's Technical Services Staff, followed by the word Ultra (which had previously been used to designate the most secret classification of World War II intelligence). Other related cryptonyms include Project MKNAOMI and Project MKDELTA.
Headed by Sidney Gottlieb, the MKUltra project was started on the order of CIA director Allen Welsh Dulles on April 13, 1953.[16] Its remit was to develop mind-controlling drugs for use against the Soviet bloc, largely in response to alleged Soviet, Chinese, and North Korean use of mind control techniques on U.S. prisoners of war in Korea.[17] The CIA wanted to use similar methods on their own captives. The CIA was also interested in being able to manipulate foreign leaders with such techniques,[18] and would later invent several schemes to drug Fidel Castro. Experiments were often conducted without the subjects' knowledge or consent.[19] In some cases, academic researchers being funded through grants from CIA front organizations were unaware that their work was being used for these purposes.[20]
RSS
Such a philosophy of reform would rest on the understanding that humans are capable of appropriating their own development. This is the one thing that distinguishes us as animals. It may be incredibly difficult to understand oneself and by extension human nature, but the research is out there. It is in our policies and our prejudices that are yet unwilling to give - not forgive. 'To forgive' is so common a mantra delivered to those wronged by, but it's misleading for many, ultimately serving to undermine their capacity for compassion. What we want is change, for nobody else to feel the hurt that we feel. In order for that to happen we must allow those who have wronged the time and space to learn.
1.Substances which will promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public.
2.Substances which increase the efficiency of mentation and perception.
3.Materials which will cause the victim to age faster/slower in maturity.
4.Materials which will promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
5.Materials which will produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering, etc.
6.Materials will cause temporary/permanent brain damage and loss of memory.
7.Substances which will enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called "brain-washing".
8.Materials and physical methods which will produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use.
9.Physical methods of producing shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use.
10.Substances which produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc.
11.Substances which will produce a chemical that can cause blisters.
12.Substances which alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is enhanced.
13.A material which will cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a fabrication under questioning.
14.Substances which will lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts.
15.Substances which promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects.
16.A knockout pill which can surreptitiously be administered in drinks, food, cigarettes, as an aerosol, etc., which will be safe to use, provide a maximum of amnesia, and be suitable for use by agent types on an ad hoc basis.
Because most MKUltra records were deliberately destroyed in 1973 by order of then CIA director Richard Helms, it has been difficult, if not impossible, for investigators to gain a complete understanding of the more than 150 individually funded research sub-projects sponsored by MKUltra and related CIA programs.[22]
The project began during a period of what Rupert Cornwell described as "paranoia" at the CIA, when America had lost its nuclear monopoly, and fear of Communism was at its height.[23] James Jesus Angleton, head of CIA counter-intelligence, believed that the organization had been penetrated by a mole at the highest levels.[23]
[edit] GoalsThe Agency poured millions of dollars into studies examining methods of influencing and controlling the mind, and of enhancing their ability to extract information from resistant subjects during interrogation.[24][25]
Some historians have asserted that creating a "Manchurian Candidate" subject through "mind control" techniques was a goal of MKUltra and related CIA projects.[26] Alfred McCoy has claimed that the CIA attempted to focus media attention on these sorts of "ridiculous" programs, so that the public would not look at the primary goal of the research, which was developing effective methods of torture and interrogation. Such authors cite as one example that the CIA's KUBARK interrogation manual refers to "studies at McGill University", and that most of the techniques recommended in KUBARK are exactly those that researcher Donald Ewen Cameron used on his test subjects (sensory deprivation, drugs, isolation, etc.).[24]
Headed by Sidney Gottlieb, the MKUltra project was started on the order of CIA director Allen Welsh Dulles on April 13, 1953.[16] Its remit was to develop mind-controlling drugs for use against the Soviet bloc, largely in response to alleged Soviet, Chinese, and North Korean use of mind control techniques on U.S. prisoners of war in Korea.[17] The CIA wanted to use similar methods on their own captives. The CIA was also interested in being able to manipulate foreign leaders with such techniques,[18] and would later invent several schemes to drug Fidel Castro. Experiments were often conducted without the subjects' knowledge or consent.[19] In some cases, academic researchers being funded through grants from CIA front organizations were unaware that their work was being used for these purposes.[20]