¿Donde Están?
May 1st, 2009 | Published in Blog | 8 Comments
For thousands of families, this is one of the questions that haunts them: Where are they?
Their brothers, and daughters, and fathers, and uncles; their sons and mothers, their friends and lovers: ¿Donde Están?
This week on Latino USA we’ve tried to step back from the headlines and ask what torture does to a nation. We attempt to answer that question by talking with thoughtful people with first-hand knowledge of the brutality that has been a scourge on the Americas for decades. In polite circles, talk of torture is not tolerated; but that can lead to the misconception that it does not exist.
One aspect of the recently-released “torture memos” is the false concern for the duration of episodes of torture, as if a mere half-hour of cruelty is somehow less horrific than longer periods of barbarism. The question asked by the families of los Desparecidos should help to answer that particular concern: the effects of torture last a lifetime, and beyond. The perpetrators of torture know that.
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
As a journalist —hell, as a human being—one question I have asked myself repeatedly in the past 8 years is what would it take to mobilize Americans to speak out for the rights of people being held by our government? Should those responsible for past acts of cruelty be brought to justice?
Secrecy should signal shame. In Latin America, people “were disappeared” in the dark of night, never to be seen again. Our own government went to great lengths to secret people off of U.S. soil to “black sites” abroad and to Camp X-Ray at Guantánamo. That’s sophistry. But what was out of sight, was out of mind.
I begin to believe that we, as a nation, suffer from ADHD: the economic crisis, the flu, anything else will distract us from some pretty fundamental issues of justice. Yet, many in our midst have spoken courageously on behalf of human rights. I think of the annual pilgrimage (such a holy event, in my opinion) to the gates of Fort Benning and the School of the Americas. I think of the people who took to the streets dressed in orange jumpsuits to remind their fellow Americans of our place in the family of nations.
But the silences, too, have been deafening and a cause for scandal.
A filmmaker and a nun, and to artists. That’s to whom we’ve turned this week for meaningful conversation about the toll torture takes on a people. As a radio producer, my hope is their voices are heard, and can beat through the din of distraction to awaken our better angels. The whole world is watching.
As always, we welcome your feedback.
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May 8th, 2009 at 9:23 am (#)
I was driving home and enjoying the stories of fellow listeners
about how they came to reading. Then you began to discuss how you came to your adulthood as a journalist and a panlatina as you interviewed a South American torture victim. The change was shocking, it was brutal…it was poetry. Thank you.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:24 am (#)
Hello Latino USA:
Thank you so much for airing the reading of Carolyn Forche’s poem, “The Colonel.”
Her birthday was noted last week on the Writer’s Almanac, driving me to the bookshelf to find that poem, one I have long considered a premier illustration of the banality of evil. In the late 1970s that poem was a call to Americans to stop supporting Central American regimes that tortured.
Unfortunately today, torture has been held up to the eyes of the U.S., and we now accept it, not just as something our allies do, but as something it’s OK for U.S. soldiers and agents to do.
Forche was crying out to a nation far different from the one we are today.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:25 am (#)
This was one of the best segments I’ve heard on any NPR show. Ever.
I was profoundly moved; by turn angry, disappointed, deeply saddened, and cautiously hopeful.
I couldn’t be more pleased that my local public radio station, KUT, sponsors such fine programming.
Thank you Maria Hinajosa. Thank you all.
-John, Austin, Texas
May 8th, 2009 at 9:27 am (#)
Dear Latino USA,
I am a very loyal fan of your show. It airs in my area on KQED, San Fran. on Sundays at 6pm. I try hard to never miss it. I loved your “Legalize Drugs” show and agree that they should be legalized, since our so-called “criminal (in)justice” system is racist and targets the poor, black and brown and is based on how much money you can pay for lawyers to get you off. it’s just a big money scam, mostly. The real “criminals” in our society are running things.
About last night’s (4/26/09) show: As a former radio
producer/host/programmer and a Selector/Deejay, besides all the great thought-provoking, educational topics you present, I always listen carefully to your MUSICA, since it’s so good! I love it when you interview the Artists that you play. Yesterday, however, you played a lot of great music but did not mention who it was. I need to know who the band/bands were that you played on your 4/26 show. Please. I wish you would at least mention the musicians each week, so we music freaks can buy the music to play for our
audiences. I went to your website but could not find the music listed.
Please hit me back by email or by phone (707-884-4703), and tell me who was the band/s that played last night on LATINO usa.
Also, I totally loved and agree with what you said Maria about torture. Right On, Sister! I am so glad you said that! Keep up the incisive political commentary. In this world of hypocrisy, hype and obfuscation, (and a lot of
brainwashing hype on “National Propaganda Radio”), I appreciate LUSA for giving great insight, views and stories from a truthful, soulful perspective.
Keep up the good work. and do please let me know who/what was that music you played. and please, try to mention the bands you play, if you can, or at least put them on your website. This is important for us and the Musicians,
yes? I love the Music you guys play. It’s great!
Muchas Gracias!
Love, Peace, Justice & Unity,
DJ SISTER YASMIN
Gualala, California
May 8th, 2009 at 9:31 am (#)
Hola Maria y otros,
Mil Gacias for speaking out on Torture. Your perspective is exactly what we have been missing in the banter about Torture in the media. I have felt very similar to what you are expressing. I hope your point of view gets out to more of the public radio audience. It is disgusting to me– a citizen
born in US– to hear Torture treated like it is not morally reprehensible. Keep up the good work.
Cuidete,
Mitzi Linn
May 8th, 2009 at 9:33 am (#)
I heard the program on the Latina’s experience at her therapist this morning and couldn’t find any contact place except yours. I am a psychotherapist and was surprised to hear her describe a story based wholly on an ethical
violation by her therapist, namely, having a dual relationship with her client. Her report that her therapist began to talk about her personal life, totally unconscious of the implications for her client, using the time for that, asking her client to do research for her, claiming to be innocent, all are material for a formal complaint against her. Her violations represent the simplest of rules regarding boundaries. And, moreover, the client felt let down, confused, almost betrayed, rightfully, illustrating
why the ethics code bars this. I cringed when I heard that her therapist was so unthoughtful/reflective of the cultural difference and the obvious crudeness of her opinions.
Aside from the flagrant behavior of the therapist, I am surprised you would put this story/complaint on the air, that your screening didn’t red flag it.
Lastly, it represented the behavior of the therapist as if it would standard and legitimate, when it is not. This does little for encouraging those who need it to get it. After hearing this story, no uncertain Latina would seek therapy!
Thanks for allowing this input.
Susan Bernstein, MSW LISW
May 12th, 2009 at 10:12 pm (#)
I appreciated the account of torture in Argentina which was on
your program yesterday. I wish you had gone further and acknowledged the
complicity of the US government in the practice of torture throughout
Latin America and Central America over the past several decades.
I wish you had specifically mentioned the School of the Americas, now
called the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation which
instructs soldiers and police from these countries in ways to oppress
and intimidate their own people in order to support the foreign policy
and economic policies of the US.
It is long past time for the people of the United States to be informed
about the pain and suffering that has been imposed on other people in
our name and with our tax money.
If you don’t tell them, people could listen to your show of yesterday
and comfort themselves with the myth that while other governments have
done these terrible things to their own people, the USA has never done
so. Or that, what happenned under the Bush administration is an
abberation which will not be repeated.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:56 am (#)
I have been a little late in catching up with L-USA reports. As it is broadcast too early for me in the NYC area, I get it on iPod. I greatly appreciate the reporting and conversations. Nevertheless, I am so angered by your report on torture. You seemed to want to convince the torturers of their wrong headedness by presenting poems and literary writings. I am sorry, but having trashed the U.S. Constitution, and wrapped themselves in the flag by proclaiming that what they did was in defense of the country, by claiming not to be torturing but carrying out ‘enhanced interragation’ ….. Shakespeare spoke well when he wrote: “A rose by any other name…” Torture is torture, by any other name it’s torture. And those who carried it out must be investigated and tried if necessary. The investigations must by necessity start from the bottom, but trials must start from the top. In all, first, I think you went too easy, much to easy on your reporting of torture. Second, after what has happened in Latin America I can not conceive of one Latino who would uphold what the U.S. did under the guise of ‘enhanced interrogation.’