Pacifica Commentary for June 17, 2004

Hello, this is Blase Bonpane with a comment.

The world's oldest profession is alive and well. It is called prostitution.

Some prostitutes sell their body and often it is to buy food for their children.

Some prostitutes sell their soul. I am particularly concerned about this latter group

who sell their soul.

There is an ancient story about Jacob and Esau and how Esau sold his birthright for a

bowl of lentil soup.

Picture an Ivy League tenured professor who might be called to Washington to give

expert advice to government. In this case the individual does not need the money to feed

his or her children, the great hope is simply for more recognition and possibly a role in

government. It becomes prostitution, however, the moment the professor begins to tell

the government exactly what the government wants to hear. Gone is the value of decades

of education. Gone is the integrity of academia.

Suppose such a person comes to Washington to huckster torture, knowing as did the

Grand Inquisitors that torture is simply the terrorism of sadistic wimps and also knowing

it will please the crown. That too is prostitution.

Some prostitutes also come from government itself, trying to use their current post to

gain a higher post.

Picture an Assistant Attorney General signing a White House memo approving torture

and stating that international laws against torture may be "unconstitutional." Consider

how pleasing it might be to Mr. Bush to be told that it is his prerogative to torture or not

to torture. A lifetime appointment to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals becomes the

prize for the babble of this 50 page pro-torture memo.

Do we have any right to judge the motives of Professor Alan Dershowitz or the new

Federal Judge Jay S. Bybee. Perhaps not.

But we do have the right to say to them and others like them, that if the

epithet fits, they should wear it.

For a free copy of this commentary call 323/852-9808...323/852-9808.

This is Blase Bonpane.