an afterword to Duke University conference
In Johnston County, interactions over torture have often been adversarial - understandable when so much is at stake. But at the recent conference, it became apparent to us that while North Carolina has played a critical role in the implementation of torture ["extraordinary rendition" flights], perhaps there is more to unite us than to divide us...
The United States' walk on the "dark side" of torture and secret detention has robbed us all of our most precious birthrights: the rule of law and our basic value of respect for human life...Â
Together, we can acknowledge what went wrong and bring it to the light of day. We can seek out those who were harmed, learn what they need, offer apologies and begin to make amends.
